About RNID

Our vision is of a world where deafness and hearing loss are not barriers to opportunity and fulfilment. Your donation will help us to continue improving the lives of the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK, and bring us one step closer to realising our vision.
 
We offer a range of services for deaf and hard of hearing people and provide information and support on all aspects of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus. As a membership charity, we aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people. Our work involves campaigning and lobbying, providing services, training, products and equipment, and undertaking medical and technical research. We work throughout the UK.

 

Our history

History
 
1911
Leo Bonn, a deaf merchant banker, established the National Bureau for Promoting the General Welfare of the Deaf.

1924
The bureau was restructured under the name National Institute for the Deaf (NID).

1948
At NID's annual meeting, Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan announced the arrival of the free Medresco hearing aid.

1958
HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, became patron of NID.

1961
Her Majesty the Queen approved the addition of the word "Royal" in the title. NID became The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID).

1992
We changed our name to The Royal National Institute for Deaf People.

2002
We changed our logo and began to use the acronym RNID. We also started to use the phrase "for deaf and hard of hearing people".