HEARING Dogs for Deaf People is one of two local charities you can help win a share of £25k by collecting tokens in The Press on their behalf.

Here, Gemma Wardle, of the charity with a training base at Bielby, tells us more about how this money could help people in need.

What difference does an assistance dog make to a person’s life?

Hearing dogs not only alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds, such as smoke alarms, alarm clocks and oven timers, they also provide lots of love, companionship and emotional support. Many deaf people can feel very lonely and isolated and our dogs not only help tackle this, they also can dramatically improve people’s mental wellbeing and quality of life overall.

How much do they cost to train?

It costs around £40,000 to fully train and support a hearing dog.

Is there a waiting list?

Yes, we always have people waiting for a hearing dog, particularly as deafness and hearing loss is on the increase. As a charity we can only train so many dogs at one time, which is why our supporters are so important to us – we rely on donations to help us train more hearing dogs and help more deaf people.

Why should our readers vote for your charity?

Anyone who votes for Hearing Dogs will directly be helping us to train more amazing hearing dogs that will transform the lives of deaf people.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People also provides lots of other personalised services that can help people with any level of hearing loss. With around one in five people in the UK having some kind of hearing loss, it is likely everyone knows someone who will need help of some kind, either now or in the future. By supporting Hearing Dogs you will be helping us to help more people.

Next week we will focus on the other local charity in the running for a share of the cash: York Rescue Boat.

Read more about our two charities here.

Once you have collected your vouchers you can drop them off at:

Morrisons, Foss Island, Road, YO31 7UR; Morrisons, 4 Front Street, Acomb, YO24 3BZ; Tesco, Stirling Road, Clifton Moor, YO30 4XZ; Co-op, 103-104 Hull Road, YO10 3LQ; Fishergate News, 32 Fishergate, YO10 4AB; Wigginton Village Stores, 64 The Village, YO32 2PS; Broadway News & PO, 44 Broadway, YO10 4JX, and Sainsburys, The Balk, Pocklington, YO42 2GG.

You can also post the coupons directly to us, please mark your envelope: Readers Choice Cash Charity, York Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.