Law firm pledges support to Hearing Dogs charity

A North East law firm has chosen a hearing loss charity as its charity of the year after seeing first-hand the impact a specially trained assistance dog can have on everyday life.

Jacksons has named Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as its charity partner for 2026, inspired in part by Stockton historian Martin Peagam and his hearing dog, Inca.

Martin, who is profoundly deaf and currently helping Jacksons curate material celebrating the firm's 150-year history, has relied on Inca for the past seven years. 

The cocker spaniel alerts him to important sounds including fire alarms, doorbells and kitchen timers, helping him live more independently and safely.

Martin said: “I feel much safer and more confident with Inca by my side.

“Inca has completely transformed my life because, being profoundly deaf, I don’t hear many important sounds that hearing people take for granted – including fire alarms.

“On a daily basis, Inca alerts me to the doorbell, the alarm clock and the cooker timer, which makes daily life so much easier.

“He has also alerted me to fire alarms in hotels twice in the last seven years.

“It is fantastic that Jacksons, a North East firm with a close relationship to the community, has adopted Hearing Dogs as its charity of the year in their 150th year.

“The funds they raise will help the charity train hearing dogs, which will transform the lives of other deaf people like me.”

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has supported people with hearing loss for more than 40 years through specially trained dogs and a range of services designed to tackle the practical, social and emotional challenges associated with deafness.

As part of the year-long partnership, Jacksons will undertake a programme of fundraising activities, including solicitor Louis Dinsdale taking on the Great North Run in support of the charity.

The initiative follows a successful fundraising year for Darlington Dogs Trust, with Jacksons continuing its commitment to supporting organisations that improve lives through the companionship and support of dogs.

Louis added: “Having grown up with a relative who required a guide dog, I was aware of the

benefits a dog could bring to people with difficulties with their vision, but until I met Martin and Inca at the meeting, I was slightly ignorant to the benefits a dog could bring to those who required assistance for the hearing.

“As a new running enthusiast looking for a challenge, when I heard Hearing Dogs were looking for runners for the Great North Run, it made perfect sense for me to align my desire

to take part in a half marathon with hopefully making a small difference by raising money for the charity.

“I am also looking forward to hopefully promoting awareness of the vital work the charity does within the firm and beyond through my fundraising efforts.”

Emily O’Neill, community fundraising manager for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People in the North East of England, said the charity was “incredibly grateful to the team at Jacksons” for choosing Hearing Dogs as its charity of the year.

She added: “We are very excited to see the team’s creative fundraising plans come to life.

“It costs around £40,000 to train and support a hearing dog throughout its lifetime, so the company’s support will play a pivotal role in helping us train more hearing dog puppies, who will go on to transform the lives of deaf people across the North East of England and beyond.

Erica Turner, Jacksons’ head of legal, added: “Our team, who all get to vote on which charity we should support every year, have chosen to support our four-legged friends for the second year running!

“We have become friends with Martin through his work on our 150th anniversary celebrations and learned about how his incredible dog Inca helps him to successfully navigate life with profound deafness, so we are delighted to be able to support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

“Martin gave a very inspirational presentation to the team about the work of his hearing dog and how he had transformed his life, and this has clearly made an impact on our people.

“I am looking forward to seeing how our year of fundraising for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People pans out and how we can help to increase support more deaf people in our community. 

“I thank Martin for alerting everyone at Jacksons to the vital work of this charity.”

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