Our Christmas appeal has now closed. If you would still like to make a contribution to Action on Hearing Loss, you can donate online.

Thank you for your support. Your kindness has and will continue to make a huge difference to our service users all across the UK.

At Poolemead, our residential home in Bath, all the staff and residents are getting excited about Christmas.

It’s a great time to enjoy arts and crafts, day trips, and other events that make the festive season special.

Donations have a big impact our residents’ happiness – both at Christmas and all year round. Without your generosity we couldn’t provide the specialist, individual support that lets residents enjoy the level of independence that’s right for them.

Your support makes such a difference to people like Sherry and Adrian, and many others who rely on the vital services that Action on Hearing Loss provides. We hope you will join in with our celebrations this year by donating online today. 

Donate to our Christmas appeal

For Sherry the build-up to Christmas begins as early as October

Sherry (48) has been living in Poolemead for 30 years now – longer than any of our other residents. She’s profoundly deaf, has complex learning difficulties and can be extremely shy and introverted. But when Christmas approaches each year, she lights up with excitement.

Sherry fills her room with tinsel, making decorations and drawing pictures of Santa, crackers and all kinds of Christmassy things. And she really comes out of her shell, involving everyone in her anticipation as the big day draws near.

In fact, Sherry likes Christmas so much that she keeps a tree in her room all year round.

It’s clear that Christmas is incredibly important to Sherry. It’s an opportunity to express herself and to enjoy the world in a very special way. And she’s not alone. For Poolemead residents, who are all profoundly deaf with other disabilities, the sensory pleasures of Christmas are something to be cherished.

Donate to help Sherry, and others like her

See the latest on how Sherry is celebrating Christmas.

For Adrian, Christmas is one big sensory experience

Adrian, who is also profoundly deaf, became blind aged 27 so he now explores his world through touch. He’s been living in Poolemead for 18 years and requires expert one-to-one attention from his carers, who communicate using a unique sign language.

Thanks to Poolemead’s exceptional professional care, Adrian’s life is filled with activity and fun – especially at Christmas.

He enjoys making decorations for our Christmas tree, which he explores through touch each day. He loves unwrapping his presents – experiencing them by touch and smell. And as soon as it snows, Adrian enlists his carers to help him make a snowman.

But the highlight of Adrian’s Christmas is always the ‘big sensory experience’ we help him to plan along with our other residents.

In recent years he’s enjoyed a steam train ride and also a boat trip, where he sat at the edge of the boat, feeling the spray of water on his face. This Christmas, your donation could help pay for Adrian’s next adventure – a day at a local safari park.

Donate to help Adrian, and others like him

Your generosity could help make Christmas at Poolemead so special the memories last all year.

How your gift could give people like Sherry and Adrian a special Christmas:

£15 could buy materials for our craft centre – anything from paint to mosaic tiles – and help residents like Sherry create more amazing artwork.

£25 could pay for residents to visit a Christmas market – a wonderful sensory experience including the sparkle of decorations and the smell of roasting chestnuts and mulled wine!

£50 could pay for one of our team to accompany a resident on a special Christmas outing – such as Adrian’s trip to the safari park, where he’ll stroke a reindeer for the first time.

£100 could help us accompany residents on a trip to a theme park – where they can experience bright lights, vivid colours and the thrilling sensation of speed.

£250 could pay for much needed equipment and plants to help the residents play an active role in planting and maintaining the sensory garden.

Donate to our Christmas appeal