Categories: A big thank you

A big thank you

Canine Partners awarded £100,000 by Barclays’ Covid-19 Community Relief Programme

Back in April 2020, Barclays announced a £100m Community Aid Package to support charities that are helping people and communities most impacted by Covid-19.

£10m of this funding has been donated through their 100×100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme, with Canine Partners being one of 100 UK charities each receiving a donation of £100k, allowing their important work to continue.

Cat Harvey, Head of Fundraising at Canine Partners, said:

“We are so grateful to have been given £100,000 by the Barclays 100×100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme. Like many charities, the pandemic has had a huge effect on our fundraising with all of our events this year cancelled, and donations like this help us to continue our life transforming work.”

The charity was chosen by a selection committee for the life-transforming assistance dogs we provide to adults living with physical disabilities across the UK.

Nigel Higgins, Barclays Group Chairman, said:

“Covid-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many sadly experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis. Incredible charities, such as Canine Partners have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support. As a bank we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that our 100×100 programme and wider community aid package helps ensure that everybody in the communities in which we live and work is supported through this crisis.”

About Barclays 100×100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme

Barclays is committed to helping its customers, clients, colleagues, and the wider community deal with the unprecedented social and economic crisis caused by Covid-19. Barclays £100m Covid-19 Community Aid Package is designed to deliver support where it is needed most through corporate donations and matched colleague fundraising. An initial investment of £10m from the £100m Community Aid Package has been made through Barclays’ 100×100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme, which has seen the bank make 100 donations of £100,000 to charities across the UK.

To see our amazing assistance dogs in action, please click here.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge is back for 2020

For one week only, any donations made online via The Big Give website will be DOUBLED until we reach our fundraising target of £110,000.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020 is more important to our fundraising than ever since the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been that we have had to pause or cancel so many of our events and activities this year. We have had to adjust our ways of working to ensure we are Covid-safe, as well as adapting our methods of partnering assistance dogs with people living with physical disabilities to keep our clients, staff, volunteers and supporters safe.

The funds we raise during The Big Give Christmas Challenge will enable us to:

  • Continue training our assistance dogs to help as many people living with physical disabilities as possible in the coming year.
  • Ensure all our clients receive the highest possible levels of service and safety whilst in our care, adhering to all health and safeguarding measures required in a world with Covid-19 in it.
  • Secure the future of Canine Partners financially, following the shortfall in income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Give hope to the people waiting to be partnered with one of our amazing dogs until we have the funding in place.
  • Providing suitable equipment for our frontline teams to work safely and in confidence with the vulnerable adults we help and giving our volunteers the tools they need to support these services.

When you donate from midday on Tuesday 1 December to midday on Tuesday 8 December, the money will be DOUBLED by our two champions, Candis Club and Colonel Alan Jukes, who have pledged to match your donation.

The incredible ability of our supporters to dig deep at the end of what has been a deeply difficult year, will mean we can go into 2021 with renewed hope and confidence that we can keep training dogs for future partnerships. A heartfelt thank you for supporting Canine Partners during The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020.

Can you help us to fund new partnerships created in 2021? Please donate via The Big Give’s website from midday on Tuesday 1 December to midday on Tuesday 8 December.  Find out more here.

Good luck to our Winter Wonderwheels ‘At Home Superheroes’!

Back in September, we asked our partnerships if anyone wanted to take part in the Winter Wonderwheels event to raise vital funds for Canine Partners.

As official Charity Friends of the Superhero Series, the UK’s one and only disability sports series, we’re very excited to take part in the perfect mission to keep you super-charged this winter – at Home Winter Wonderwheels powered by Marvel.

Participants can complete this ultra-flexible challenge any time between 5 November and 6 December, anywhere (living room, garden, neighbourhood) and in any way (walk, run, push, wheel, canoe, swim) they wish.

Canine Partners would like to say a huge thank you and good luck to all of our At Home Superheroes taking part in the challenge over the next few weeks!

To find out more about this challenge, please click here.

#FitFor30Challenge – Melanie’s fundraising story

At the end of September I completed my Fit for 30 Challenge to raise awareness and money for the brilliant Canine Partners. I have loved it! I first heard about Canine Partners via social media and couldn’t wait to get involved with such a worthwhile cause. Canine Partners are an amazing charity. They match people with physical disabilities with amazingly talented assistance dogs.

What is the Fit for 30 Challenge?

The Fit for 30 Challenge ran throughout September and is designed to increase physical activity and fitness, as well as to encourage mental wellbeing. To take part, you simply choose an activity based around the numbers 30, for example 30 minutes of something, 30 repetitions of something and so forth. You then complete your challenge for the 30 days of September (or at any time of the year!) and ask people to support you by donating to the charity. I chose to complete 30 minutes of yoga for 30 days, as I often overlook prioritising it but feel such huge benefits. It was really easy to join and the staff at Canine Partners couldn’t have been more helpful.

My month of yoga

The event really encouraged me to make the time to do yoga each day and I am so glad that I did. My mind, which can be quite busy at times, feels so much clearer and more focused – I feel generally calmer. Having suffered with a back injury a couple of years ago, it now feels stronger and I wake up without stiffness. My knotty shoulders are much more mobile and I have looked forward to the overall feeling of wellness that my daily class has given me. At times it was tricky to fit in, but I even got up early to get my 30 minutes in on the hectic days.

Starting the day this way was so positive. I used the Peleton Fitness app to complete my yoga and loved the variety and quality of classes they offer. Some of my favourites included 90’s yoga, Whitney Houston yoga, evening slow flow, and power yoga. I also topped up the physical activity with some meditation using the same app. I am happy that I have raised awareness for the charity and also managed to raise some money from kind family and friends.

I would strongly encourage anybody to get involved with and support Canine Partners. It is such a worthwhile charity. You can also enjoy some personal gain from being fitter and stronger, physically and mentally, from your chosen activity. I am determined to take at least five classes of yoga each week moving forwards and will be keeping an eye on Canine Partners to see how I can continue to support them.

Could you take on the Fit for 30 Challenge like Melanie from Two Plus Dogs and raise vital funds for Canine Partners? Find out more here.

Face coverings made by the Canine Partners community during Covid-19 raises over £10,000 for the charity

Bev’s fundraising story

Bev, who is a Volunteer Speaker and Fundraiser in Hampshire, became involved with the charity after a Demonstration Dog visited the school she worked in. She has made over 250 masks in total, with around 30 orders coming in each day.

Bev said: “At the start of lockdown I was concerned for the charity and, with all my talks cancelled, I decided to raise funds by making face coverings. Initially, I wanted to raise enough to cover the possible donations that might have come from my cancelled talks, however in total I have raised over £1,850 through my JustGiving page. I made them for family and friends to begin with but people kindly spread the word. I even had special orders for particular groups, such as bee keepers and yoga classes.”

Vicky’s fundraising story

Vicky decided to make masks and raise funds for Canine Partners, as the charity provided her with her canine partner Mclaren, affectionately known as Mac.

Vicky said: “During the Covid-19 lockdown, it became apparent that Canine Partners were missing out on a lot of donations due to cancelled events. I wanted to help as Mac has changed my life for the better and he has provided me with not only physical but emotional support throughout the last six years since we were partnered. I started to sew homemade face masks for myself and immediate family, but once my friends heard what I was doing they asked if they could buy one from me, so I decided to take donations for Canine Partners. I’ve enjoyed buying new materials, have set up a small Facebook page, and people in the group can pick out the material they want. I have made over 50 masks and have raised over £600 via my JustGiving page so far, with others donating directly through the Canine Partners website.”

Hazel’s fundraising story

Hazel, who is partnered with canine partner Questa, decided to  make masks as Questa is her ‘beautiful canine partner and such a help with everyday tasks’.

Hazel said: “I have made over 1,600 masks and have raised over £4,000 so far through my JustGiving page and over £5,000 in total including fundraising through Facebook. I have made three different types of masks, including some with a breathable waterproof outer layer and some as ‘back to school’ lightweight masks. All the masks I have made have an aluminium nose strip, soft elastic ear loops and are washable. The village I live in has been very supportive, which is great!”

Gwyneira’s fundraising story

Gwyneira was matched with canine partner Nicki 10 years ago. She decided to fundraise for Canine Partners as canine partner Nicki has enabled her to live a ‘more independent and fulfilling life’.

Gwyneira said: “Over the past few years, I’ve been using my sewing and crafting skills to raise money for the charity to say thank you for partnering me with such a special dog. Usually I would have sold my handmade items at various summer and Christmas fetes with donations being made to my JustGiving page. When it was apparent that the pandemic would mean that these types of events wouldn’t happen this year, I started using my fabric stash to make washable face coverings. I initially thought that 50 would be quite an achievement, but over the past five months I have actually made and dispatched over 800!  This has raised over £3000 and my JustGiving page continues to receive donations, taking its total to nearly £10,000. I am continuing to sell face coverings on my Etsy shop with the proceeds continuing to support Canine Partners, training and placing these amazing dogs and transforming even more lives.”

Would you like to raise vital funds for Canine Partners? Click here for inspiration and to find out more.

#FitFor30Challenge – Gemma’s fundraising story

September is coming to an end and with that I am reflecting on the Fit for 30 Challenge. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part. It has been an honour to help raise awareness of the wonderful charity Canine Partners.

This challenge has encouraged me to push myself. During lockdown earlier in the year, I found it hard to keep motivated in terms of exercising. The gym was an important part of my routine; it allowed me some ‘me’ time away from my busy life with a toddler. It also helped me manage my mental health.

When the gyms reopened, I couldn’t wait to get back. But, my fitness was nowhere as good as it was. This was frustrating as I felt like I was having to build my fitness levels up. I kept turning up to Les Mills BodyCombat classes (a group exercise class based on a variety of martial arts and boxing) and I felt like I was improving; being able to do higher impact moves and not tiring as quickly.

As my confidence in BodyCombat grew, I decided to reintroduce a weights class. This was more of a challenge for me. I have always enjoyed BodyCombat more than weights. The first weights class I completed was incredibly challenging. I felt like I was struggling so much and had to really will myself to keep going. I remember being so sore for days after too! But I kept pushing myself. I am able to lift heavier weights, lift for longer and my form has improved dramatically.

As a dog lover, I truly appreciate the benefits a dog can bring. From my own experience, having our Dachshund Walter has helped me immensely with my own mental health. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years. Walter came into my life at a time when I was struggling a great deal. He gave me a sense of purpose and a reason to get out of bed.

I would encourage anyone to take part, to raise much needed funds for Canine Partners. Dogs can do so much to help so many members of our society, including those with physical disabilities. I think a lot of us, myself included, take for granted the things we do in any given day.

Canine Partners are doing amazing work training dogs to do everyday tasks and match them to the right person. These dogs are having a positive impact on people’s lives.

Could you take on the Fit for 30 Challenge  like Gemma from Daisy and her Dachshund and raise vital funds for Canine Partners? Find out more here.

#FitFor30Challenge – Lauren’s fundraising story

We are now over halfway through September, which means there is still plenty of time to complete the Canine Partners Fit For 30 Challenge! An event aimed at raising vital funds that will allow the charity to continue providing people like myself with life-changing assistance dogs.

Following the sudden decline in my physical health at the age of 19, I was not prepared for my mental health to also suffer as a result of my new “disabled” lifestyle. I felt as if I no longer had any dignity or privacy, due to the fact I had to have a carer with me at all times. But was during those darker days that I decided to apply for a canine partner, in the hope of regaining some independence. Little did I know just how much my life was about to change!

Fast forward to September 2020 and I will soon be celebrating my 3 year anniversary of being paired with canine partner Fliss. Not only has my quality of life drastically transformed during this time, due to the fact Fliss can help me get undressed, retrieve my medications, and press my emergency alarm amongst other things, but she has also given me the confidence and motivation to leave the house on my good days, whilst having someone to help me through the bad days by continually boosting my mental health.

Fliss has positively improved life for my family – something I naively didn’t expect. But thanks to her never-ending support, my mum and my partner, Felix, have also experienced a new lease of life. Providing them with the time to focus on their own passions, such as writing a book and creating a small business!

For regular updates from Felix, who is running 30 miles, along with an insight into my 30 minute roll along the beach with Fliss next week – you can follow our progress on social media or by visiting our website. Don’t forget – you can also share your own photos throughout the challenge using the hashtag #fitfor30challenge!

If you would like to take part in the Fit For 30 Challenge and help Canine Partners continue their amazing work, simply think of an activity based around the number 30 that allows you to get fit. Whether it’s mentally or physically, you will be sure to find an activity that suits you! Find out more here.

Women’s organisation ‘Inner Wheel’ raise an amazing £4,000 for Canine Partners

Lesley, pictured giving their cheque to our very own Laura from the Income Generation Team, is the Chairman of District 1 of the Inner Wheel, which covers most of the north and east of Scotland, with twenty four Clubs from Stirling to Inverness and around 730 members. 

Each year the Chairman of each Inner Wheel District chooses a charity to fundraise for, and Lesley chose Canine Partners.

Lesley says, “I had first become aware of the charity’s work when they started 30 years ago near where I lived in Sussex. We were delighted when Jane from Edinburgh and her canine partner Damson came to talk to members at our District meeting in Pitlochry last August. Everyone was so impressed and moved by the difference Damson has made to Jane and how, with Damon’s love and support, she’d regained her energy and enthusiasm for life.”

Inner Wheel was established in Manchester in 1924 as the sister organisation of Rotary. It continues to grow as new clubs are set up and now has more than 100,000 members in over 104 countries. The organisation aims to promote true friendship, encourage the ideals of personal service and foster international understanding.

Inner Wheel Clubs undertake a number of fundraising activities and support local, national and international good causes, including the annual Chairman’s charity, and we are so grateful that Lesley chose Canine Partners – thank you to her and all of her team for their support!

Would you like to raise money for Canine Partners?

Find out more by visiting our Fundraising Page.

 

Thank you to our At Home Superheroes!

Canine Partners are official Charity Friends of the Superhero Series, the UK’s one and only disability sports series, and we were delighted that some of our partners took part in the At Home Superheroes event during lockdown.

Participants could do their own personal challenge over any distance, in any place, and in any way they liked, from walking to wheeling, or cycling to swimming.

Many of our Heroes took part with their canine partner by their side, and decided on a variety of physical challenges including:

  • Covering the 20km (or even further) suggested by the challenge, including Rosie and canine partner Barnabus, Ruth and canine partner Delia, Sandra and canine partner Sherling who covered the distance by doing laps of their local park, and Miriam and canine partner Nelson who covered 40km over a week in June
  • Vickie smashed her 300 mile target and covered over 400 miles on her bike
  • Miriam did ‘10k her own way’ by doing 10,000 reps of core or arm strengthening exercises, including crunches and push ups
  • Rowena ran 200km in over four weeks with her pet chocolate Labrador, Chip
  • Jax did 20km in her manual wheelchair with canine partner Kingston, working together as ‘Team Kingston’

Thank you to all of our Heroes, you are all champions in our eyes!

Feeling inspired to take on a challenge for Canine Partners?

Check out our Fit for 30 Challenge and help us celebrate our 30th year.