THE founder of a hearing aid recycling campaign has visited a Dorset care home to thank residents and staff for supporting her work.

Zoe Fawcett-Eustace called in at Canford Chase in Poole to collect more than 230 no-longer-needed hearing aids, which will now be repurposed to help some of the world's poorest people.

The devices were gathered at the Western Road home and Colten Care's 20 other care homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and West Sussex.

It followed an agreement last year between the provider and Zoe's organisation, Hearing Aid Recycling, under which the homes act as collection points for used or unwanted hearing aids to avoid going to landfill.

Speaking at Canford Chase, Zoe said: "We're so grateful for Colten Care's help. The donated hearing aids will make a difference to people in need here and worldwide.

"They will genuinely help to transform lives from the very young to the very old."

Colten Care became the first UK care home provider to partner with the charity, encouraging residents, families, and people in the community around each home to donate their old devices.

Zoe, who began to lose her hearing aged just 14, added: "I had the good fortune to be born in the UK, so I was given hearing aids as soon as I needed them.

"Given our small planet of scarce resources and much need, I couldn't bear the thought that such amazing tiny pieces of technology would just go to landfill."

In Malawi, charity partner and audiologist Fletcher Chisalipo has already received a batch of repurposed hearing aids from the charity.

He cited the case of Precious Banda, a 14-year-old boy who suffered from severe malaria when he was seven.

Fletcher said: "He lost his hearing as a result of quinine treatment for the disease.

"In his area of rural Malawi, we were told it might take three to four years for a government procurement process to source hearing aids.

"Now, we have fitted him with two aids for free, and he can hear better. Both he and his mother are overjoyed, and they have promised he will return to school."

Anne Hammond, home manager at Canford Chase, said: "This is such a worthwhile campaign, helping people in need who would not otherwise have access to hearing aids."