CVS have chosen Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as the group’s new Charity of the Year. This decision follows nominations and a nationwide colleague vote, with fundraising efforts commencing on 1 July.

To support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, CVS practices will host Pennies’ ‘digital charity boxes’ at client payment points across 400 of its small animal first opinion practices and referral hospitals throughout the UK. Pennies enables clients to make small voluntary donations when paying by card or mobile wallet. Additionally, CVS colleagues will organise various fundraising events, including sponsored walks, dog shows, cake bakes, and donation days.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity that trains dogs to alert deaf individuals to important and life-saving sounds such as smoke alarms, alarm clocks, and oven timers. These dogs wear burgundy coats that signal to the public that their partner is deaf. The funds raised through CVS’s charity partnership will support the training of more hearing dog puppies, who will significantly impact the lives of their deaf partners by helping them reconnect with friends, family, and their community.

CVS Group’s Commitment

Richard Fairman, Chief Executive of CVS Group, expressed enthusiasm for the new charity partnership: “Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a hugely important charity doing life-changing work. We’re so pleased it received our colleague vote. I know that our teams will now be planning a myriad of fundraising events. We hope that by working together we can make a huge difference to the work that Hearing Dogs for Deaf People does, day in and day out.”

Jo Wengler, Head of Major Giving at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, commented on the partnership: “We are so grateful that colleagues at CVS have voted us as their Charity of the Year for 2024/25, and we look forward to providing any support we can to the different fundraising activities their practices take on. Deafness is rising in the UK; by 2035 it is estimated that one in five British people will experience deafness or hearing loss, and the demand for our services is increasing all the time. The money raised by CVS practices will be a huge help in allowing us to continue providing vital support to help more deaf people be more independent, live life to the full and leave loneliness behind.”

Last year, CVS’s Charity of the Year partner was Guide Dogs for the Blind. The success of that partnership set a strong precedent, and CVS aims to build on this momentum to support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People in their critical work.

For more information on how to contribute or participate in CVS’s fundraising initiatives, visit the CVS Group or Hearing Dogs for Deaf People websites.