A NATIONAL award, for charities designed by charities, has been handed to a Cheshire sensory loss organisation.

Deafness Support Network (DSN) which has an office on South View Road, Chester, has been granted the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NVCO) Trusted Charity Mark - offering both users and funders external verification of the quality and credibility of an organisation.

DSN supports more than 100,000 people living with a sensory loss - either hearing or sight loss - in Cheshire and North Wales, and is led by CEO Bob Birchall.

Bob said: “No other quality mark addresses all the essential areas necessary for the effective management and governance of a charity, so we are of course absolutely delighted to have passed Level 1, following not just the self-assessment but the external examination too.”

DSN employs more than 70 people, including support workers, social workers, fundraisers and administration staff.

If you are interested in working for DSN, contact Kirstin McCallum on hr@dsnonline.co.uk.