Banbury volunteer says helping others gave him a new purpose in retirement
A retiree from near Banbury who supports people with hearing loss has spoken about how volunteering has given him a renewed sense of purpose and confidence in retirement.
Philip Le Mare from Adderbury volunteers with Hearing Link Services, part of the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Before retirement, Mr Le Mare worked in construction, sales and the live music industry but admits he paid little attention to protecting his hearing.
After taking early retirement at age 60, he initially enjoyed having more freedom. However, after several years he began looking for a more meaningful way to spend his time.
Mr Le Mare said: “I started to look for something I could do that would make a difference in society.”
Living with significant hearing loss himself, he came across an advert for peer support volunteers for Hearing Link Services and subsequently attended a training session in Eastbourne, where he discovered a welcoming community.
Now reliant on hearing aids, Mr Le Mare says volunteering has helped him better understand both his own hearing loss and challenges faced by others.
He said: “Volunteering for Hearing Link Services has made me understand who I am. Because I understand deafness, I understand what my own needs are, which I didn’t know before.”
Now Mr Le Mare volunteers at community events, helpdesk services and online webinars, as well as contributing to research projects involving University College London and the NHS.
Mr Le Mare believes volunteering has provided much more than an opportunity to help others.
“It's something that occupies your mind, the friendships and the learning,” he said. “It's given me confidence.”
He is now encouraging others approaching retirement to explore volunteering opportunities, no matter how small they may seem.
“You can walk along the street with some pride, knowing that you've helped someone,” he said. “It doesn't have to be anything big – you can start small by helping at events or collecting. It gives me enormous satisfaction.”
He also hopes greater awareness of hearing loss will encourage more understanding and inclusion.
Mr Le Mare said, “Hearing loss is invisible, so the only way we're going to get people to understand is to open people's eyes about how it affects people's lives.”