For the 7th year in a row, Winns is delighted to have received the Louder than Words accreditation. With even more Winns staff trained in Action on Hearing Loss and continual development of ways for the deaf and hard of hearing to access Winns services, Winns is proud to have retained the accolade while providing a helping hand to those who require it.

Winns was the first law firm to receive the Louder Than Words charter mark from Action on Hearing Loss, initially receiving the prestigious accreditation in July 2013, and has kept hold of it every year to date.
The largest charity of its kind, Action on Hearing Loss represents over 10 million people across the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing. Their Louder than Words charter accreditation sets out best practice standards for businesses that are committed to improving accessibility.

Winns has previously trained its staff in deaf awareness, installed an induction loop at its reception desk and sourced portable loops for private meetings in dedicated quiet rooms. The company website also contains a live chat feature, allowing potential clients to begin discussions with Winns without the need for a phone call. The latest developments include partnering with Action on Hearing Loss to offer all Winn Group employees access to free hearing checks, 31 more Winn staff officially becoming Deaf Aware, and the provision of Notetakers and sign language interpreters for clients.

On completing the Deaf Awareness training course, Winns staff member Ross commented;

"I found it really useful because it gave me a different perspective on the interactions which we take for granted both in terms of communication with people and fulfilling everyday tasks. It definitely made me much more aware which serves a practical purpose for clients."

Did you know:

• 1 in 6 of the UK population have some kind of hearing loss
• This is expected to increase to 1 in 5 by 2035
• Over 900,000 people are severely or profoundly deaf
• Around 2 million people have hearing aids
• 1 in 10 UK adults experience tinnitus
• 50-70,000 people use sign language as their main language (this is likely to be an underestimate)

If you would like any further information on the Action on Hearing Loss charity and what they do, please visit their website here. 

Michael Warmington, Associate Director at Winns, added;

“I am yet again delighted that we have been awarded the Action on Hearing Loss Louder than Words charter accreditation. Support for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing is an ever growing requirement which we consider important as a business. Our continuous attention to improvements will ensure that all of our customers continue to benefit from the best level of service possible.”