Law firm names its charity of the year ‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’ after getting to know Martin Peagam and his incredible four-legged friend.
When adorable cocker spaniel Inca bounded into Martin Peagam’s life seven years ago, his whole world was transformed for the better.
That’s because Inca is no ordinary dog.
Inca is a potentially life-saving hearing dog, alerting profoundly deaf Martin, 68, from Stockton, to everything from fire alarms to the sound of the cooker timer.
“I feel much safer and more confident with Inca by my side,” says Martin.
“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.”
Martin, a historian who is currently supporting Jacksons with curating information about the firm’s 150-year history, was over the moon when Jacksons decided to adopt Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as its charity of the year for 2026.
That’s because he knows first-hand how a hearing dog can be a lifeline to a deaf person.
“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,” he said.
“The funds they raise will help the charity train hearing dogs, which will transform the lives of other deaf people like me.”
For over 40 years, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been transforming the lives of people who are deaf or have hearing loss, by rebuilding their sense of connection to the world around them, providing companionship, and increasing confidence.
The charity not only provides expertly trained hearing dogs, but also offers support services to deaf people, addressing the practical, social and emotional impacts of hearing loss that so often go unnoticed.
The charity’s ultimate aim is to create a future where everyone with hearing loss is able to live well.
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.
“We are very excited to see the team’s creative fundraising plans come to life,” she said.
“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.”
As part of Jacksons’ year-long fundraising campaign for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Louis Dinsdale, who recently took up the role as a solicitor in Jacksons’ corporate and commercial team, has volunteered to take on the Great North Run for the charity in September.
Louis became inspired when Amie Callan, the firm’s head of operations, introduced Hearing Dogs as the new charity of the year at one of Jacksons’ recent monthly communications meetings.
During the meeting, Martin attended to introduce Inca to the team and explain what he means to him.
Louis said: “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.”
Dog lover Erica Turner, Jacksons’ head of legal, said she was delighted the firm would be supporting the local community’s four-legged friends for the second year running.
Partner Toby Joel presented a cheque for £1,684.21 to Darlington Dogs Trust in April, after a successful year of fundraising for them by the Jacksons team.
“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!” Erica said.
“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.”
For more information on the work of this charity, visit www.hearingdogs.org.uk.
