Welcome back to our Volunteer of the Month series – where we shine a light on our fantastic volunteers and the amazing work they do for us.

This month, Community Champion Liz Downs from the New Forest supporters group shares her experience of volunteering and fundraising for Canine Partners in her own words.

Discovering Canine Partners

I initially found out about Canine Partners in 2011, when I decided to not send out Christmas cards any more, and instead send money directly to a few charities. I searched on the Internet for some new charities to support and Canine Partners stood out as one to go for!

One thing led to another and I was soon sponsoring a puppy through the My Amazing Puppy scheme. Two years later, when I had just finished doing some other voluntary work, the plea for speakers caught my eye!

I attended speaker training back in 2014, but before I had even done my very first talk, I was asked to deputise for the East Sussex satellite fundraisers at a local dog show in aid of the charity and was given a box of merchandise to sell. After the event I had some left which I took to my mother’s care home and so was born my idea to offer Christmas card sales at other care homes to raise funds.

Getting the word out

Throughout 2015, I capitalised on my local contacts and booked up talks to various local groups to spread the word. I bought myself a notebook computer and a mini projector as well as acquiring a screen through Freegle. With my kit, I could turn up to any venue and deliver a presentation all about Canine Partners and the amazing work they do.

As 2016 rolled round, I moved to a completely new area – New Forest – where I didn’t know anyone and essentially had to start all over again! I was scouring the local press and noticeboards for groups and making contacts. Canine Partners was not well known in the area and with the lead in time for talk booking being about a year, I needed to come up with other ways to do promotion.

I managed to acquire a gazebo, and began booking pitches at local craft fairs and events. Although I do not recommend seven hours standing on New Milton High Street in December (brr!), Canine Partners was beginning to get recognised. Over the past year I have now gathered together a small group of friends to support me as well. Now I can leave the stand and go to the loo at an all day event – hurrah!

Organising my own event

Earlier this year I decided that the time was right to organise my own fundraising event with help from my friends. This culminated in a Canine Partners Quiz Night and Ploughman’s Supper at my local community centre on Friday 13 October. Despite the unfortunate date, it all went really well!

We had 48 quizzers join us for a fun evening which was thoroughly enjoyed by all – and resulted in £306.41 raised to transform lives.

Next up, I have obtained permission from the Forestry Commission to hold a sponsored walk in one of the New Forest enclosures next April – so once I’ve recovered from quizzing, I will need to start planning! On top of that, I have started resurrecting the care homes Christmas card sales again in my new area, and will also be cashing in on my tennis club ladies tennis, coffee and cake morning to raise more vital funds. It’s a busy life for a Community Champion!

Why I do it all

Canine Partners is a wonderful charity and I have learned so much about disability and the difference an assistance dog can make to someone’s life.

I have recently teamed up with Barbara Houston and her amazing canine partner Mungo and we are now doing talks together. I cover the beginning and end of the talk and Barbara covers the partner training and tells everyone what a difference Mungo has made to her life. It still brings tears to my eyes every time I hear her speak.

The need to network and find speaking engagements and sales opportunities has also helped me integrate into my new home area – volunteering is a great way to get into local society and make new friends. If you are thinking of volunteering for Canine Partners…don’t think about it, do it!

It can sometimes be a bit lonely at a local level for a volunteer of a national organisation, but the support is always there from Canine Partners, and at the end of the day it is a really rewarding thing to do. You really can make a difference.

> Find out more about how you can help raise vital funds by visiting our Fundraising section.