ANOTHER Kilwinning councillor has thrown his weight behind plans to save a vital hearing aid service.

Joe Cullinane is supporting Action on Hearing Loss Scotland's Hear to Help programme which is facing closure at the end of March.

The service is used by over 1,300 people in North Ayrshire to have their hearing aids cleaned and fixed by volunteers.

He's the latest Kilwinning councillor to back the campaign after the Times previously highlighted Robert Steel's support.

But Hear to Help is closing due to the three Health and Social Care Partnerships across Ayrshire failing to provide continuation funding. 

Hear to Help Coordinator, Donna McSwiggan, welcomed Councillor Cullinane to a support session in Chalybeate Sheltered Housing, Kilwinning on Friday, March 18 and highlighted the devastating isolation many people with hearing loss will face without being able to access the service volunteers’ life-changing support.

Councillor Cullinane, Labour's candidate for the Cunninghame South seat, said: “I have met a number of constituents in recent weeks who use Hear to Help and are deeply concerned by its impending closure. 

"The service is used by more than 1,300 people with hearing loss across North Ayrshire and, during my visit to Chalybeate Sheltered Housing, I could appreciate how much easier Hear to Help makes life for senior citizens who would otherwise face a journey to Crosshouse Hospital for hearing aid support. 

"Despite Chalybeate being next door to Kilwinning Library, which has a monthly Hear to Help drop-in, some service users aren’t mobile enough to go – so how can they be expected to go all the way to Crosshouse?

“I’m backing Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s case for the three Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnerships to provide the financial support required to continue running Hear to Help, which has a proven track record of providing a valuable service that is held in very high regard by many people with hearing loss across our communities.”

Hear to Help Coordinator, Donna McSwiggan, said: “We are delighted that Councillor Cullinane has had the opportunity to see at first hand the benefits of our Hear to Help service and agrees with us that it makes sense to support people, some of whom have other health issues or mobility difficulties, at home or in their communities without forcing them to make the journey Crosshouse Hospital.”

For information about Hear to Help, call telephone: 01563 539900 or email: donna.mcswiggan@hearingloss.org.uk