Volunteer of the Month - March 2025 - Julia Cruse

“Julia is like a breath of fresh air,” says Service Delivery Manager, Nicholas Orpin, in speaking of volunteer Julia Cruse from Tunbridge Wells.

“Her academic and lecturing background have given her a skill set that is empathetic and solutions focussed. She has a measured approach that means she delivers on what she says she will and is excellent on the detail that others may miss. When she is volunteering, she comes with a real energy and sense of purpose that is infectious and trusting. Beneficiaries, volunteers and staff having nothing but praise for Julia. We are lucky to have her.”

Hence why Julia has been chosen as Volunteer of the Month for March 2025. The charity is indebted to the intelligent, can-do approach she has brought to her volunteer involvement since joining us in 2019. All prompted by one of her sons gifting her puppy sponsorship!

Julia initially signed up as a fundraiser, however when the opportunity to volunteer as a Peer Support Volunteer for our Hearing Loss Services arose, she felt this was where she could give the most.

Volunteer Charles Carmichael recalls: “When Julia first volunteered as a Helpdesk Responder, she said she hoped that her experience of sudden hearing loss could help people going through the same challenges and emotions.”

Helen Ives, Central Support Advisor, confirms this has certainly been the case: Julia is forthcoming in sharing her experiences, as well as solutions that have been helpful for her. This has been extremely supportive for enquirers; putting them at ease and being able to talk in more depth to someone who truly understands.

Contending with the shock of suddenly being unable to hear in her 20s was just part of Julia’s own experience. She also had balance issues which meant she couldn’t walk well or drive which affected her profoundly. With support from physiotherapy and audiology Julia gradually learned to cope better and move forward.”

It’s difficult to quantify the difference this level of understanding and support means to those Julia has helped through her volunteering, however it is certain to say that she has changed lives for the better. She has both a level of professionalism and way of making people feel at ease by sharing her own story, that helps others to open up and talk with her.

Julia generously extended her skills to Hearing Loss Services’ LinkUp support groups, usually accompanied by her husband, Denis, who is also a peer support volunteer, sharing his experience of living with someone with hearing loss.

This year LinkUp support groups have helped 145 people affected by hearing loss to the point where it is causing them difficulties. They also include hearing relatives, partners, or friends of someone with hearing loss, because we know that hearing loss in the family, affects all family members, and everyone needs support to find a new way forward.

The programme offers everyone the opportunity to explore their own challenges, and to understand better each other’s perspective. It’s daunting, but having someone like Julia to facilitate the proceedings, with her gentle encouragement, helps people to become relaxed and comfortable and participants go away, not only with the confidence and knowledge to better manage life with hearing loss, but with new friendships.

Volunteer May Wood, who met Julia at a LinkUp support group, says: “Julia and Denis are a lovey couple, friendly and sociable. Julia is a confident and warm volunteer facilitator, quickly putting all participants at ease. Everyone opened up under Julia's warm charm.”

Julia has also been instrumental in the development of one of the Helpful Hours webinars, one our newest services. Working as part of a small team, this group of committed volunteers have together given up hours of time, researching and discussing their own experiences, in order to put together practical tips and information to help others who have hearing loss.

Helpful Hours volunteer, Helen Thom, recounts: "I have very much enjoyed working with Julia on the development and delivery of Helpful Hours. I have always found her to be enthusiastic, positive and supportive of her peers, as well as being very knowledgeable!  Working with people like Julia is one of the reasons I love being a Peer Support Volunteer myself!"

Volunteer Merleen Watson, who also volunteers at LinkUp support groups with her husband Paul, agrees: “Julia is a warm-hearted, empathetic and knowledgeable person; just the qualities needed for her role as a Peer Support Volunteer. She has been exceptionally helpful and supportive to both Paul and myself as relative newcomers to Hearing Link Services team.”

As a speaker for the charity, Julia has gone a long way in achieving an ambition to become an ambassador for deafened people and to bring about greater understanding of hearing loss. As a former university lecturer, she is a confident and accomplished spokesperson appreciated by audiences, both in person and online. So much so that she was spotted and approached to do some broadcasts with Good Morning Marlow radio station. Presenter Chris Zambera reports:

“Julia has been a guest twice on our monthly Hearing Health Hour. On both occasions, she made an enthusiastic and detailed description of Hearing Link Services, and the volunteering she has done there, including of course the larger organisation of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.  

Her passion and willingness to support those with hearing loss came over particularly well, and it’s obvious that she cares deeply for those with the country’s most common yet invisible disability - hearing loss. She knows what it is like to suffer both physically, mentally, and socially from this - and I can see that she strives hard to help those affected. She is clearly a remarkable volunteer and charity representative.”