Who we are
Learn more about our charity’s mission, our plans for the future, and how we work with other assistance dog organisations.
We are Canine Partners
We create loving, life-changing human-dog partnerships by training Canine Partners, Canine Companions and Canine Home Assistants for people with physical disabilities. Since 1990, we’ve created and supported more than 1,000 partnerships.
Our vision and mission
Vision
Every disabled person lives their life to the full.
Mission
To change lives using expertly trained dogs to improve physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
Our values
We are accredited members of Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK)
This is a group of charities working to the highest standards of assistance dog training and welfare. We work closely with other Assistance Dogs UK members to share ideas, raise awareness, and campaign for the legal rights of people with assistance dogs.
We are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
This is a worldwide group of not-for-profit organisations committed to improving how we all train, place, and partner with assistance dogs. As members of the Assistance Dogs Europe chapter, we’ve helped to accredit new assistance dog programmes for many years.
Access for assistance dogs under UK law
Assistance and guide dogs in the UK have important rights under the Equality Act 2010.
The law gives disabled people and their assistance dogs the same rights as everyone else to use public services like shops, hotels, taxis, and restaurants.
Businesses can’t just refuse service. They must make reasonable adjustments to welcome customers with assistance dogs, even if they have a ‘no dogs’ policy.
It’s important everyone understands these legal rights to ensure disabled people are treated equally and without discrimination. By raising awareness, we can build understanding and acceptance of the role of working dogs.
Our plans for the future
We’re focusing on three key areas that shape Canine Partners’ strategy:
- Delivering the best possible service
With new, multi-skilled trainer teams and community-based services, we can improve how we assess, match, and support our partnerships. This backs up our lifetime commitment to every placement.
- Transforming how our charity works
We’re updating our brand, website, systems, and reporting. This will increase awareness of Canine Partners and engagement with our charity across the UK.
- Making sure we’re run well
We’re setting up a strong future by raising more funds each year, balancing budgets, finding different sources of income and using every pound efficiently, with our Trustees ensuring responsible governance (how a charity is run).
We rely purely on donations, no government funding
Help us achieve our mission.