Rt Hon Andy Burnham performs official Stone Laying Ceremony to celebrate building of new world-class North West Guide Dog Training School

Rt Hon Andy Burnham performs official Stone Laying Ceremony to celebrate building of new world-class North West Guide Dog Training School

What: Rt Hon Andy Burnham is joined by Mayoress Rona Winkworth, guide dog owners and puppy walkers to perform an official Stone Laying Ceremony to celebrate building of new world-class North West Guide Dog Training School in Atherton

When: Friday 05 December 2008, 11.00am (arrive 10:45am)

Where: Galiford Try Construction, Gibfield Park Avenue, Atherton, Wigan M46 0SU

Guide dog owners, puppy walkers and Mayoress Rona Winkworth will be joined by the Rt Hon Andy Burnham as he performs an official Stone Laying Ceremony to celebrate the building of the brand new world-class North West Guide Dog Training School, in Atherton, on Friday 05 December, Gibfield Park Avenue.

The new purpose-built school, being constructed by Galiford Try Construction, replaces the charity’s existing Bolton training facility which has been in operation for nearly 50 years. With its state-of-the-art welfare facilities and outstanding training areas, it will ensure that trainee guide dogs are fully prepared for today’s busy streets and complex towns.

With this new world-class training environment, Guide Dogs will be able to train an increased number of happy, healthy, high-quality guide dogs to provide a life-transforming level of independence and confidence to thousands of blind and partially-sighted people across the UK.  It is hoped that around 30% more guide dogs will be trained at Atherton taking the total a year for the North West from around 260 to about 345.

A £650,000 fundraising appeal to help equip the new Guide Dog Training School Atherton launched in October has already raised over £18,000 which will help to fund internal living and training environments and equipment to provide the best in mental and physical stimulation, such as the latest in kennel design, indoor training areas, a vet centre, observation rooms, outside play areas, play toys, blankets, dog bowls and much more.

At the forefront of the design is a focus on the wellbeing and development of the young dogs, which come in for training to become life-changing guide dogs.  The new facility incorporates the latest innovations in dog training facilities from across the world, as well as the expertise, experience and knowledge of Guide Dogs’ own staff.
     
Following the official Stone Laying Ceremony guests will attend a prviate reception at the Park Inn Hotel, Leigh, where the Rt Hon Andy Burnham will deliver a speech alongside Guide Dogs’ national operations director Stephen Kirk.

There will also be the opportunity to meet guide dog puppy Harry, the first pup due to begin training at Atherton, who will be accompanied by his puppy walker, Liz Fenwick, from Leeds.

Says Guide Dogs’ operations director Stephen Kirk: “Guide Dogs is delighted to be able to commemorate the building of our new training school in Atherton with this special Stone Laying Ceremony, and are excited to be continuing with our long-history of guide dog training in the North West. The new facilities and space will allow us to produce better quality dogs to suit the individual needs of more clients, 77 years on from the day the first four guide dogs in the UK qualified in the Wallasey area of the North West.

Director of Galliford Try Construction North, Bob Merriman, said: “We are very pleased to be given the opportunity to work with Guide Dogs to develop this new first-class facility, which will enable the charity to continue to be a world-leader in the training of guide dogs – enriching the lives of thousands of visually impaired people in the UK.”

Guide Dogs hopes to reach the £650,000 appeal target for the early summer 2009 opening of the new facility. Individuals, groups, organisations and corporate companies wishing to support the appeal can do so by hosting an event or undertaking a sponsored challenge or through corporate donations and sponsorship.  Email: athertonappeal@guidedogs.org.uk, or call 0870 600 23 23 for more information or for a fundraising pack.  Donate securely online.      

  
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