Forward The official Guide Dogs magazine Spring/Summer 2019 Meet Caitlin, the future Paralympian! Also inside: Introducing the Guide Did you see Dogs Appeal 2019 our heart- warming Who will you nominate for TV ad? a People Award? Do something amazing today I get just as much from our meetings as I hope Agatha gets from me. Hannah, sighted guide volunteer You can make a positive difference to the life of someone with sight loss, whilst making new friends, getting exercise and gaining skills. Our specialist training and support will ensure that you feel confident to safely guide someone with sight loss in your local area. You will help someone who shares the same interests as you to get out of their home and into the community, and build their self-confidence and independence. You can make a real difference to their lives – and it will make you feel good too. Find out more Call 0345 143 0191 Email [email protected] Visit us at guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer Contents 16 Regulars 5. Welcome from the CEO 6. News Stories from across Guide Dogs 11. Guide Dogs in the media A round-up of what’s made the headlines 12. Celebrity round-up special What have our star Features supporters been up to? 11 13 On the campaign 25 A Day In The Life trail Of… Sally Freeman, 41. Caption competition Guide Dogs’ Family Puppy Naylor meets 16 Taking the right Events Manager a larger-than-life STEPs Learn about friend how we train our dogs 29 Introducing our new People and dogs October event… 15 The Guide Dogs 18 Read all about our Appeal 2019! 14. Who will you spring campaign nominate for a to spread the word Guide Dogs People about Guide Dogs 42 In good company Award? 15. Meet Theo, the 20 Caitlin’s story 20 12-year-old who’s Find out how this raised enough to 23 young girl isn’t name a guide letting sight loss dog puppy hold her back 23. Join Dave in celebrating 40 24 Read about our years of guide new Volunteering dog ownership Strategy 24 26. Thank you to our supporters 30. New Partnerships J0275 Please recycle 41. Letters this magazine 3 Forward Magazine | Spring/Summer 2019 The Great Guide Dogs Let’s get your party started! Tea Party This summer help us change lives by hosting a Great Guide Dogs Tea Party! All you need to do is order your free party pack today and have some fun fundraising. Go to guidedogs.org.uk/teatime or call 0345 143 0192 Contributors: audio and text files. It is also Email: guidedogs@ Annabel Williams, Lucy available as an accessible guidedogs.org.uk © 2019 Llewelyn, Daniel Silva, Liz PDF from our website at Registered charity in England Palmer, Deborah Rees, guidedogs.org.uk/forward. and Wales (209617) and Jordan Whitefield, Pippa You are receiving this copy in Scotland (SC038979) Marking, Clare Hellery, Kyla of Forward magazine as one Full colour advertising McVicar, Victoria Heywood, of our valued supporters. is available in Forward. John Welsman, Lynette If you no longer wish to For information on rates, Proctor and Sharne Kirkwood. receive it, please contact us publication dates and Designed by: Paula in by phone on 0800 953 0113 circulation, please call The Design Studio or by email on guidedogs@ 0118 983 8295. Terms Contributions: Send editorial guidedogs.org.uk. and conditions apply. items to Forward by post at Founding Editor: The the Head Office address Any products or services late Captain Nikolai advertised in Forward by below, or by email to Liakhoff MBE FRZS [email protected]. third parties are not in any Unfortunately, due to the Registered Head Office: way endorsed by Guide volume of ideas we receive, The Guide Dogs for the Dogs, and Guide Dogs we cannot acknowledge Blind Association, Hillfields, shall not be responsible every item. We reserve the Burghfield Common, for the accuracy of any right to edit or refuse. Forward Reading RG7 3YG information contained in is available in Braille, large Tel: 0118 983 5555 such advertisements nor has print, audio CD and online as Fax: 0118 983 5433 it investigated or verified Web: guidedogs.org.uk any of the information. 4 Forward Magazine | Spring/Summer 2019 Welcome Chief Executive’s welcome more people in the south Speaking of awards, it was west. We’re also expanding my honour to be invited to our training facilities at other present the champion trophy sites, while recruiting 25 to the owner of the Best in more Guide Dog Mobility Group – Gundogs category Instructors this year to tackle at Crufts in March, which waiting times across the UK. was an Irish Water Spaniel We are so dependent on called Luther. We were also our volunteers to do what able to showcase our positive we do and we’re pleased reinforcement training to the to share our new plans to dog-loving public at our stand, expand and enhance the which was very well received. I know many of you will support we provide to our I was also very pleased to want to hear how the black fantastic volunteers. I had be one of the 300 people Labrador puppy my family the pleasure of seeing Ken running for us in the London welcomed into our home Syvret MBE presented with Landmarks Half Marathon. last year is getting on. At the Foundation Award at Especially impressive were the time of writing, Dolly is the Churchill Awards in the 30 brave souls dressed currently being assessed at April for his tireless charity as guide dogs. It was a the National Breeding Centre work. The awards recognise great day and I was happy as a future guide dog mum. If the contribution made by with my time, especially not, then of course it’ll be hard those aged over 65 to British considering that I took the to say goodbye as she moves society. Among a host of chance to greet as many on to guide dog training, other voluntary roles, Ken’s fellow Guide Dogs runners as because she’s become part been a committee member I could on my way round. of our family. But either way, of the Guide Dogs Jersey Don’t forget that you can we’re happy knowing that fundraising group for 60 she’ll be a future life-changer. follow me on Twitter; my years, and its Chairman for handle is @tomwrightuk. Speaking of the future, in my 49 years and counting. It last greeting I introduced was inspirational to hear of With best wishes, our By My Side strategy to someone so dedicated to Tom Wright CBE take this charity to 2023 this charity. Chief Executive and beyond. I explained Guide Dogs that we want to do even more for people with sight loss – whether that’s canine assistance and support services, or services delivered in-person, online or over the phone. And we’re devising all sorts of ways to increase our capacity to make sure that happens. For example, we’ve purchased and are now expanding our Bristol facilities to help even 5 Forward Magazine | Spring/Summer 2019 News Great British Dog Forward magazine – your chance to have your say Survey returns Here at Forward, Forward we’d love to get The official Guide Dogs magazine Spring/Summer 2019 your thoughts on this magazine – what you love, what we can do differently or what Meet Caitlin, you’d like to see more the future Paralympian! of. That’s why with this edition of Forward, Also inside: Introducing the Guide Did you see we’ve included a Dogs Appeal 2019 our heart- warming Who will you nominate for TV ad? a People Award? readers’ survey for you The Great British Dog Survey is back! And to fill out and return to us by Friday, 26 July. this year we want to find out even more If you receive a standard print copy of about the nation’s favourite pets. Here Forward magazine, the survey was included. at Guide Dogs, we can’t get enough of If you get any other format, please go to talking about our pooches but now we surveymonkey.co.uk/r/forward2019 to fill out want to hear about yours! Do you have the questionnaire by 5pm on 26 July. While a doggy mastermind or maybe a playful the most efficient way for us as a charity to pup regardless of their actual age? It’s collect responses is online, if you need to time to put your dog on the map! complete the survey over the phone, call 0118 983 8484 by this deadline. We’d love to What’s more, we’ve got some excellent know your views, so please take ten minutes prizes up for grabs; from dog portrait to tell us what you think. photoshoots to a £200 Pets at Home hamper! You’ve got to be in it to win it, so take part today at dogsurvey.org.uk. Dorothy Richardson: Happy Volunteers’ Week! 3 May 1939 – Volunteers’ Week takes place from 1-7 9 February 2019 June each year to celebrate the fantastic Sunderland and South contribution that volunteers make across the Shields fundraising UK. Here at Guide Dogs, we’ve celebrated group are sad to through our Local Volunteer Awards and by announce the loss of sharing stories of the amazing things that loyal supporter, Dorothy Guide Dogs’ volunteers do to change the Richardson, who lives of people with sight loss. worked tirelessly for the group. Dorothy, who had several We would like to take this opportunity to guide dogs during her life, attended thank you for what you do for Guide Dogs.