Nicola and Andrew Brown know first-hand what volunteering can give back.
In December 2017, their lives changed forever when their 21-year-old son, Jake, died in a car accident. “I donʼt think anyone can describe what it feels like to lose a child. He went out of the house one day and didn’t come back,” Nicola said.
At the time, Nicola was working as a SEN Teaching Assistant. But after Jake’s death, everything stopped. “I didn’t go back to work. Life just stood still and I felt like I had nothing to get up for.”
As Nicola navigated her grief, she searched for something that could help her rediscover a sense of purpose. A lifelong dog lover, she came across Canine Partners. “If Jake had survived, he might have needed an assistance dog himself. Helping someone benefit from that support just felt right.ˮ
They became Puppy Training Volunteers and in December 2018 welcomed their first puppy, Saffy, into their home.
“Saffy changed everything. Grief can be very isolating, and I had become quite withdrawn. She gave me a reason to get up in the morning and helped me reconnect with the world.ˮ
Over the next 16 months, they helped Saffy build the confidence and skills she needed before moving on to the next stage of her assistance dog training.
“You do get attached, but knowing she would go on to change someoneʼs life made it easier to let her go. When I heard sheʼd been matched and become a Canine Partner, I felt so proud.ˮ
Not long after, they were joined by Labradoodle puppy, Rosa. Rosaʼs temperament and coat made her well suited to our breeding programme, and Nicola and Andrew began a new chapter as a Dog Breeding Volunteers. “From the start, we had such a strong bond. Incredibly, she shares her birthday with Jake. It felt like it was meant to be.ˮ
Since then, Rosa has had three litters, helping bring 20 future assistance dogs into the world. Nicola and Andrew support her through every stage, from pregnancy to raising and socialising the puppies. “Itʼs hard work, but we get lots of support and itʼs incredibly rewarding. Watching them grow and knowing the difference theyʼll go on to make is amazing.ˮ
Alongside caring for Rosa and her puppies, Andrew has also used his professional expertise in digital technology to help us develop our new website.
Volunteering has also brought a sense of community back into Nicolaʼs life. “It feels like a new family. Everyone has their own story, but weʼre all here for the same reason.ˮ
When Rosa retires, she will stay with Nicola and Andrew as a much-loved family pet, and Nicola plans to continue volunteering.
“I started volunteering to help change someone elseʼs life. In doing so, I changed my own.ˮ