Hear for Norfolk (operating name of Norfolk Deaf Association - NDA)

What Hear for Norfolk (operating name of Norfolk Deaf Association - NDA) does

Hear for Norfolk is the trading name of the Norfolk Deaf Association (NDA), a charitable company limited by guarantee founded in 1898 and registered in England and Wales (Company No. 07966408, Charity No. 1146883). It delivers hearing health and ear-care services to people with hearing loss across Norfolk, operating from its headquarters at 14 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich. The portfolio spans five core service lines: Aural Care (microsuction ear wax removal performed by registered Nurses/Practitioners with aid of a microscope and calibrated suction device), the NHS-funded Adult Audiology Service for people aged 50+ commissioned by Norfolk & Waveney ICB Central Locality, a Private Audiology Service for all ages from age 7, a Hearing Support Service for maintenance and repair of NHS-issued hearing aids, and the Cuppa Care Project for loneliness and isolation. Supporting services include Hearing Loss Awareness Training for organisations (£30+VAT per person), otoscopy screening (£10), and a self-serve online booking portal (appointments.hearfornorfolk.org.uk) with Stripe payment.

The organisation distributes its services through a fixed clinic at Norwich, a mobile clinic fleet visiting 30+ towns across Norfolk (Acle, Aylsham, Cromer, Dereham, Diss, Fakenham, Great Yarmouth, Holt, King's Lynn, North Walsham, Sheringham, Swaffham, Thetford, Wymondham, and others), home/care home visits for housebound patients, and telephone support. Pricing is unit-based: £60 per microsuction procedure, £10 per otoscopy screening, £30+VAT per training attendee, and a Friends of Hear for Norfolk membership at £18 individual / £30 couple per year. NHS services are free at the point of use for eligible patients. Revenue is supplemented by individual and corporate donations (including Gift Aid), community fundraising, legacy gifts, and partnerships such as easyfundraising.

Hear for Norfolk maintains clinical and compliance credentials including Cyber Essentials Plus, CQC registration, Fundraising Regulator membership, Living Wage Foundation accreditation, Age-Friendly Employer and Dementia Friendly recognition. Its partnership ecosystem is unusually broad for a charity of its size: a flagship national alliance with RNID (delivering a hearing health clinic at Parliament on 30 June 2025), a Cuppa Care consortium with Age UK Norfolk, Norwich Age UK, MIND Norfolk Waveney, Vision Norfolk and the Rotary Club of Norwich, and academic research collaboration with the University of East Anglia (including the HEARD dementia-and-hearing study with Professor Michael Hornberger). The organisation supports over 10,000–17,500 people annually, against an estimated Norfolk hearing-loss population of 125,000–201,500 (2019 ONS).

Name

Hear for Norfolk (operating name of Norfolk Deaf Association - NDA)

Legal name

Norfolk Deaf Association

Website

https://hearfornorfolk.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hear for Norfolk (Norfolk Deaf Association, founded 1898) is a Norwich-based charitable company delivering hearing-loss services across Norfolk via fixed clinics, a 30+ town mobile clinic network, and home visits — including NHS Adult Audiology, microsuction aural care, private audiology, hearing aid support, and the Cuppa Care loneliness project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC), Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC)

Keywords

• Hearing loss services
• Audiology and ear care
• NHS hearing assessments
• Microsuction ear wax removal
• Community hearing support

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. NHS Service Contracts: NHS funded hearing assessments and hearing aids fitting service for people age 50+ with age-related hearing loss, commissioned by Norfolk & Waveney ICB Central Locality.
2. Private Audiology Services: Private hearing services for people of all ages including hearing assessments, prescription and fitting of hearing aids, aftercare support, aural microsuction, and medico-legal hearing evaluations. Oticon Zeal and other hearing aid brands offered.
3. Aural Care Procedures: Ear wax removal via microsuction at £60 per procedure for private patients, with NHS referral pathway available where commissioned locally.
4. Otoscopy Screening: Ear screening service for presence of ear wax and other ear concerns, performed by appropriately trained and experienced staff.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate donations, fundraising events, and legacy gifts. Gift Aid scheme boosts donations by 25% for UK taxpayers.
6. Friends of Hear for Norfolk Membership: Annual membership scheme at £18/year (individuals) or £30/year (couples), providing regular updates, invitations to events, and lectures.
7. Hearing Loss Awareness Training: Training sessions for organisations and individuals at £30+VAT per person including materials and refreshments, delivered at client's venue or Hear for Norfolk offices.
8. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate charity partnerships, employee giving through payroll giving, and corporate sponsorship of fundraising events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hear for Norfolk is a charitable organisation providing clinical hearing healthcare and community wellbeing services across Norfolk. Core offerings include Aural Care (microsuction ear wax removal by registered Nurses/Practitioners), NHS-funded Adult Audiology (hearing assessments and hearing aid fitting for adults aged 50+), Private Audiology (full assessments, prescription/fitting of private hearing aids including Oticon Zeal, aftercare, and medico-legal evaluations), Hearing Support Service (maintenance, repairs, batteries for NHS-issued hearing aids), and the Cuppa Care Project addressing loneliness and social isolation in rural communities.

Product overview

Hear for Norfolk is a charitable organization (working name of Norfolk Deaf Association, founded 1898) offering a portfolio of hearing health and wellbeing services primarily in Norfolk. Its core service offerings span five distinct areas: (1) Aural Care Service — microsuction ear wax removal performed by registered Nurses/Practitioners, bookable online or by phone; (2) Adult Audiology Service (NHS) — NHS-funded hearing assessments and hearing aid fitting for adults aged 50+; (3) Private Audiology Service — paid hearing services for all ages including hearing assessments, Oticon hearing aids, aftercare, and medico-legal evaluations; (4) Hearing Support Service — maintenance, repairs, and battery supply for NHS-issued hearing aids via community, mobile, and home-visit channels; and (5) the Cuppa Care Project — a mobile wellbeing and loneliness-reduction service delivered in partnership with local organisations. Supporting these clinical services are a Hearing Loss Awareness Training programme and an Otoscopy ear-screening sub-service. Services are delivered through fixed-location clinics at Meridian Way (Norwich), a network of mobile clinics visiting towns across Norfolk, and home/care home visits. An online appointment booking portal (appointments.hearfornorfolk.org.uk) supports self-service scheduling for Aural Care. A major fundraising campaign is underway to acquire a second mobile assessment and ear care unit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cuppa Care Project: A county-wide support service aimed at preventing and reducing loneliness and social isolation across Norfolk communities, delivered by a partnership of local organisations.

Products and services

• Aural Care Service (Microsuction) Ear wax removal via microsuction technique performed by fully trained, registered and experienced Nurses/Practitioners with the aid of a microscope. Suitable for individuals experiencing ear wax build-up causing hearing loss, discomfort, or tinnitus, including those needing wax removal prior to hearing aid fitting. Includes prior otoscopy screening and home/care home visit options for housebound patients.
• Adult Audiology Service (NHS) NHS-funded hearing testing and hearing aids fitting service for people aged 50+ with age-related hearing loss, provided by trained, registered and experienced Audiologists. Delivered from community-based clinics with domiciliary and care home visit options, free at the point of use for eligible patients.
• Private Audiology Service Private hearing services for people of all ages (children age 7+ and adults), including full hearing assessments, prescription and fitting of hearing aids, aftercare support, aural microsuction, and medico-legal hearing evaluations.
• Hearing Support Service Outreach service for routine maintenance and repairs of NHS-issued hearing aids across Norfolk, delivered via community-based clinics, mobile clinics, and home visits. Includes supply of batteries, tubes, domes, filters, and guidance on assistive listening devices for hearing aid users from multiple NHS providers.
• Cuppa Care Project County-wide support service aimed at preventing and reducing loneliness and social isolation across Norfolk communities, delivered via a mobile bus visiting towns and villages on a rotational basis. Provides emotional wellbeing support, practical assistance, and connections to partner organisations including Age UK, MIND Norfolk Waveney, and Vision Norfolk.
• Hearing Loss Awareness Training (HLAT) Training service for organisations and individuals to increase awareness and understanding of hearing loss, its impacts, and communication strategies. Delivered at client venues or at Hear for Norfolk's accessible training room at £30+VAT per person, including materials and refreshments.
• Private Hearing Aids (Oticon Zeal and other brands) Private hearing aids offered through the Private Audiology Service, with the Oticon Zeal as flagship product (smallest instant-fit model on the market; rechargeable, Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calls, Second-Gen AI). Includes a full range of private hearing aids: Behind-the-Ear and custom in-ear options.
• Otoscopy (Ear Screening) Ear otoscopy service screening for ear wax and other ear concerns, performed by appropriately trained and experienced staff. Offered at £10 per screening, and also as a free pre-assessment step before aural care or audiology appointments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting over 10,000-17,500 people with hearing loss every year across Norfolk
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2025National charity partnership to deliver hearing health clinic in Parliament on 30th June 2025. Joint advocacy for improving access to audiology and ear care services across the UK. RNID is the national charity supporting more than 18 million people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus.
• Age UK NorfolkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuppa Care Project partner providing services to address loneliness and isolation across Norfolk communities. Age UK Norfolk joins other partner organisations in delivering the Cuppa Care bus service that visits towns and villages across Norfolk.
• Norwich Age UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuppa Care Project partner delivering services to combat loneliness in Norwich area. Partner logo displayed on Cuppa Care materials.
• MIND Norfolk WaveneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuppa Care Project partner providing mental health and wellbeing support alongside hearing services. Contributes to holistic support for isolated individuals.
• Vision NorfolkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuppa Care Project partner offering support for people with visual impairments. Partnership extends reach to individuals with multiple sensory needs.
• Wellbeing PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuppa Care Project partner contributing to community wellbeing support services across Norfolk.
• Rotary Club of NorwichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal initiator of the Cuppa Care Project. Rotary Club of Norwich developed and led the project which was subsequently taken on and developed by Hear for Norfolk.
• University of East Anglia (UEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration. UEA conducted independent evaluation of Cuppa Care Project (Dr Sarah Hanson and Ms Anna Sweeting). Collaboration on hearing loss and dementia research including HEARD study with Professor Michael Hornberger.
• University of East Anglia (UEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on documentary about music, hearing, and safe listening. Hear for Norfolk featured in UEA documentary highlighting importance of protecting hearing in music-filled lives.
• easyfundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with easyfundraising allowing supporters to raise free donations when shopping online with over 8,000 retailers who donate part of spending to Hear for Norfolk.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• SignHealth: UK charity focused on deaf people and British Sign Language users, providing advocacy, health information, and supported living services. Comparable as a mission-driven deaf/hearing loss organisation, though SignHealth emphasises BSL/deaf community services rather than clinical audiology delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Specsavers Hearcare: High street retail hearing care chain offering hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and aftercare through hundreds of UK locations. Directly competes with Hear for Norfolk's Private Audiology Service and NHS hearing-aid maintenance support, but with significantly greater geographic reach and marketing scale.
• Amplifon UK: Global hearing aid retailer with a UK retail network offering private hearing assessments and hearing aid dispensing. Comparable to Hear for Norfolk's Private Audiology Service for adult self-funders seeking premium devices such as Oticon products.
• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People): UK's largest national charity for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, supporting more than 18 million affected individuals. RNID is a current Flagship partner of Hear for Norfolk and is comparable in mission (hearing loss advocacy, awareness, service access) but operates at national rather than county scale.
• Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care: UK high street chain providing NHS and private hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and aftercare. Listed as a provider whose NHS hearing aids Hear for Norfolk services through its Hearing Support Service; comparable business model mixing NHS contracts with private dispensing.
• Hidden Hearing: UK private hearing care retailer with a chain of high street clinics offering hearing assessments and hearing aid dispensing. Comparable private-pay audiology proposition to Hear for Norfolk's Private Audiology Service, though without the charitable NHS contract or mobile clinic angle.
• Boots Hearingcare: UK high street hearing care retailer operating from Boots pharmacies, providing NHS and private hearing assessments, fittings, and aftercare. Directly competes for private audiology customers and NHS hearing-aid users in similar geographies to Hear for Norfolk.

Direct peers

• OutsideClinic: UK provider of in-home and mobile hearing (and eye) care services visiting customers at home. Directly comparable to Hear for Norfolk's mobile clinic and domiciliary hearing support model, serving housebound and rural patients who cannot easily access high street clinics.

Others

• Action on Hearing Loss (RNID trading name): RNID's previous consumer-facing brand continues to operate alongside RNID's main identity. Listed separately only because it is the legacy front-door for many of the same hearing-loss support users that Hear for Norfolk also reaches through Cuppa Care and awareness campaigns.

Regional players

• Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital Audiology Department: Local NHS hospital audiology provider that issues NHS hearing aids which Hear for Norfolk services through its Hearing Support Service. Comparable as a regional audiology provider serving Norfolk residents but operating from a hospital rather than community/mobile clinic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cuppacarenorfolk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hear-for-norfolk

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hear for Norfolk (operating name of Norfolk Deaf Association - NDA)