Following December’s announcement of the intention to close the Southern Training Centre at Heyshott, plans are now underway to implement this decision, led by CEO Alex Lochrane.

Alex explains, “Canine Partners, like many other charities, is experiencing tough financial challenges, as a result of the pandemic, but compounded by the rising cost of living and energy prices. Becoming a single operating site will reduce costs and safeguard the financial future of the Charity ensuring funds remain focussed on delivering as many of our amazing partnerships as possible, now and in the future.”

The Charity’s Midlands Training Centre is located near Loughborough in Leicestershire. Its location and purpose-built facilities make it well suited to continue to deliver services to beneficiaries across the UK and to support all areas of work from one base. The Centre will become Canine Partners registered Head Office from the start of May. At the same time, Advanced Training operations currently in the South will begin moving to the Midlands. Southern-based Fundraising and other office teams start remote working in June and the Southern Training Centre will close as an operational site.

Acknowledging that the timetable for closure is ambitious, and is subject to change, Alex explains that “by focussing our efforts on closing as soon as is safe and practicable, the Charity will start to benefit from the opportunities presented by this organisational change.” Alex’s priority is to ensure the closure is carried out compassionately, responsibly, sensitively and efficiently. He says, “The site at Heyshott has been the centre of operations for the Charity for many years and it is essential that for the Canine Partners community of staff, partners, volunteers and supporters connected with the Centre, that the impact of this change is minimised.”

A formal staff consultation, to identify opportunities for those whose roles are most impacted by the closure, will conclude in March. In parallel, the measures necessary to support staff working remotely and the areas of work that need to transition to the Midlands Training Centre, are all being reviewed.

Although Canine Partners is closing the doors to the Southern Training Centre, the Charity has deep, enduring relationships in the area, and Aftercare, Puppy Training and Fundraising teams will remain active and fully engaged in the South. Alex confirms, “Southern region partners and waiting list applicants, our amazing puppy volunteers, and our wonderful community of donors, funders and supporters, will all continue to receive the levels of support and opportunities to engage with the Charity, that they currently enjoy.”

Both Training Centres remain open and operational at this time. Although there is a significant focus on the closure, the Charity continues to operate ‘business as usual’, with a busy start to the year already for the Charity’s Breeding and Training teams. Two new puppy litters are now 8-weeks-old and being introduced into their new Puppy Parent homes. Life-changing partnerships have already been created this year with two dogs successfully placed and now making a difference to their partners’ lives; further placements are in their final stages.

Alex and the team are working hard to ensure a smooth transition by the closure in June and will continue to share updates regularly. If you have any queries in the meantime, please speak with your Canine Partners contact, or get in touch at news@caninepartners.org.uk.

Date:  27 February 2023