Volunteers of the Month - September 2024 - Kevin & Gillian Robinson

Gillian and Kevin Robinson are such wonderful, established volunteers it’s like they’ve been with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People since day dot! In actual fact, it’s almost four years to the day since their ‘paperwork’ was sign off.

Interestingly, the couple came forward at the start of 2020 but their volunteer application and home checks were suddenly halted in March of that year as we all entered first Lockdown. On that basis you could say the Robinsons entry into the charity is of historical significance! Either way, this affable couple have genuinely graced Hearing Dogs with their sunny outlook and positivity which shone through from the get-go:

“Can’t begin to tell you how happy we are to have been accepted as volunteers and looking forward to the day we receive our new house guest.”

This first guest turned out to be the lovely Sandy, a yellow Labrador, who is now working as a fully trained hearing dog for their deaf partner. Sandy was immediately followed by Draco, another yellow Labrador, for a handful of months before moving on to his next stage of training to eventually become an adored companion dog. 

No sooner had Draco left, when Gill and Kevin graciously agreed to take on 10-month-old Nico, thereby firmly establishing themselves as Labrador specialists!

Karina Bird, Dog Training Instructor, says: “Nico presented some challenges to training; he struggled to settle, stole things to chew, and would run off to greet other dogs (when off lead) with not a thought for coming back! Gill and Kevin have been so patient with him, taking their time to work on different behaviours and even traveling to The Grange every week for eight weeks, which is 1 hour 40 minutes away, in order to attend a Dog Distraction Course.

The commitment and time Gill and Kevin have put into training Nico is above and beyond and – best of all - it has really paid off. He has been matched to deaf partner, passed his final exams and will shortly be going out to fulfil his destiny as a working hearing dog.”

Such is the Robinsons’ competence, in late March of this year they welcomed another exuberant black Labrador puppy, Saxon, into their home to train to alongside Nico. The two have become great companions and been on many adventures together thanks to Gill and Kevin making time to positively introduce them to a wide array of experiences and real-life training opportunities.

Many of these outings are shared by Gill and Kevin on our popular VolTeamHDogs Facebook group where they are regular, sociable and witty contributors. Their photos and videos portray a huge amount of heart and good humour that speaks volumes of the way they go about their volunteering.

Their involvement with Hearing Dogs evolved even further last year. Rachel Clarke, Community Fundraising Manager, recounts: “Gill and Kevin are superstars! On top of their puppy and dog training roles, they very kindly now also support our fundraising endeavours in Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties. They’ve only been volunteers on the fundraising side since last August, but already have made quite an impact! 

They help our Cambridge Fundraising Branch as often as they can – lending a hand at events and collections. They are also always on the lookout for opportunities. One good example is that they made friends with the Community Champion at their local Tesco and asked if Hearing Dogs could have an in-store collection, which led to a lucrative Christmastime slot raising almost £850 in just a few hours!”

Gill and Kevin are just the type of volunteer we love at Hearing Dogs: kind-hearted, willing and a joy to be around. They are admired and appreciated as Labrador specialists, fun fundraisers and also for being two wonderful human beings that the charity is honoured to count within its volunteer family. In fact, we very much hope that Gill and Kevin’s four years will extend to forever!