The enthusiasm and willingness to help was immediately demonstrated by the first group as they were given the complex and challenging job of putting up a 30 foot by 60 foot marquee – without instructions – ready one of the Charity’s major events. Ahead of all expectations, the frame was assembled and the tarpaulin covers had started to go on by the end of day one.
Day two saw a different group from the branch arrive on site and they were eager to pick up where their colleagues had left off the previous day. Much scratching of heads and discussion soon resulted in a cunning plan and before we knew it the roof was on and it was time for lunch. A breakaway group also worked tirelessly to assist with a big Information Day being held in main arena of the Southern Centre, showing people to their seats and providing teas and coffees for over 100 visitors. An exhausted but happy crew handed over the reins to the third and fourth groups who arrived bright eyed and ready for action on Wednesday and Thursday.
Once again, they threw themselves into their jobs. One group were faced with getting up close and personal with some creepy crawly countryside wildlife with a sort-out of one of the Charity’s large storage sheds. When they had finished, we had discovered a mannequin’s torso we didn’t know we had and space for a whole host of equipment that can now be stored in an orderly fashion, which will keep the Charity’s maintenance man Ken extremely happy!
On top of this, an enormous delivery of goods from another of our corporate supporters had just arrived so that was soon being counted and sorted into its respective stock piles while other volunteers helped with the mammoth job of painting three large storage sheds with weather-proofing. Another group had several hundred information updates to collate for a large mail-shot for our My Amazing Puppy sponsors.
The fourth and final group arrived on Thursday morning ready to tackle the task of painting our gatehouse. We use the gatehouse to train our dogs in a home environment and our trainers sometimes take it in turns to stay there overnight. Within minutes the lounge and bedrooms were cleared, dust sheets were laid and the brushes were put into action. Another group also started on giving the storage sheds a second coat.
Trusts and Corporate Manager Cat Harvey said: “The volunteers were an amazing group who took to every job with enthusiasm and a can-do approach, no matter how challenging the task was. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the staff from HSBC in Southampton and we are extremely grateful for the immense amount of help they have given us. Many of these tasks would have had to wait several months to be completed without the time these volunteers gave us.”
For further information about HSBC visit www.hsbc.co.uk.
Under the partnership, National Express has liveried one of their coaches with Canine Partners branding and road-users up and down the country can see the amazing purple coach on motorways telling all about our amazing dogs.
In addition to this, kind-hearted National Express customers are given the option to donate £1 when they book a ticket online. This has raised over £16,000 pounds so far.
Jenny Moir, Head of Communications at Canine Partners, said: “We can’t thank the kind-hearted National Express customers enough for opting to donate £1 when they booked a ticket online.
“Every contribution made will help transform the lives of more people with physical disabilities through allowing us to train more of our amazing assistance dogs.”
For further information about National Express visit www.nationalexpress.com.
Entrants in the 5k walk or 10k run were easily spotted in the beautiful grounds of Petworth Park as many wrote their purple Canine Partners hairy headbands and medals.
Holly Bryan, Events and Challenges Co-ordinator for Canine Partners, said: “We are thrilled with the number of people and dogs who supported Canine Partners by joining in our walk and run events. The money will make a difference and enable Canine Partners to train more assistance dogs in their 25th anniversary year, transforming the lives of people with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, around the main arena at the Bark! in the Park event, there was plenty to see and do with have-a-go areas, including a doggy challenge run with Fun with Dogs, search and rescue with the ALSAR
Search Dogs Sussex and a scurry provided by English Springer Spaniel Welfare. Visitors also enjoyed trialling the latest photographic technology at the Panasonic’s Roadshow tent where hundreds enjoyed an instant free portrait with their four legged friend.
Approximately 680 slices of cake, 300 scones, 150 portions of clotted cream and 14 jars of homemade strawberry jam were consumed by the 150 attendees on Sunday 20 September.
Organiser Ali Bailey, who is a puppy parent and demo dog handler for Canine Partners, said: “The fact we have raised more than £3,200 really is the icing on the cake. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was great and everyone enjoyed themselves – including the Canine Partners puppies and dogs which attended. It was our best cream tea to date!
“I am really proud to be part of a fantastic team of volunteers who took the time to help with this event and gave 110 per cent on the day.”
The nationwide retail chain has kindly donated dog beds, toys, bowls, collars, leads and much more which will benefit our assistance dogs in our 25th anniversary year.
Cat Harvey, Trusts and Corporate Manager, said: “We are extremely grateful to Pets at Home for their support as one of the chosen charities to benefit from the Pets at Home VIP Club Lifelines. They have donated £30,000 worth of products to us which will make a huge difference to all aspects of our work training our amazing dogs for people with disabilities.
“This will save us a huge amount of money and enable us to have these packaged products readily available for all stages of our dogs’ training.”
For further information about Pets at Home visit www.petsathome.com.
Callum, 14, Connah, 12 and Keira, 11, from Hull, East Yorkshire, decided to form a group called ‘The Sibsters’ as part of a Humberside Police youth initiative. The trio proved great ambassadors for us, and they hope one day their efforts will help their mum Karen Little who is on the waiting list.
Callum said: “They are going to help my mum so we should help them!”
A massive thank you goes out to ‘The Sibsters’ from everyone at Canine Partners. We are incredibly lucky to receive such dedicated supported and much need funds. If you’ve been inspired by ‘The Sibsters’ fantastic fundraising efforts then please get in touch.