FORWARD: Spring/Summer 2021 Guide Dogs presents the Spring/Summer 2021 issue of Forward, the official Guide Dogs magazine. Introduction This document contains every part of the print version of Forward, and in the same order as that used in the print edition. Guide Dogs | 90 Years Forward The Guide Dogs magazine Spring/Summer 2021 Guide Dogs turns 90! Jo and Flash help us celebrate Guide Line - the new way to contact Guide Dogs CustomEyes Books gets its own digital store My Time to Play: a new service for children with sight loss Included here is a photograph of actor Joanna Page holding yellow Labrador guide dog puppy Flash. Contents Regulars - Welcome from the CEO Regulars - News All the very latest from across Guide Dogs Regulars - Guide Dogs in the media We’ve been making the news in a big way Regulars - Star news We’re loving our celebrity supporters Regulars - On the campaign trail Features - All the latest volunteering news Features - Find out about Guide Line – the new way to contact Guide Dogs Features - Introducing Puppy Raising for Excellent Partnerships Features - Richard and Martin’s story Richard’s second guide dog has helped him discover walking for pleasure Features - A life of adventure Mollie left a gift to Guide Dogs so others could enjoy the same freedom she did Features - A guide dog named Ben in memory of a special son Regulars - A day in the life of… Penny Hefferan, Service User Voice Officer Regulars - Thank you to our supporters Features - CustomEyes Books gets its own digital shop Features - My Time to Play Our new service for young children with sight loss Regulars - Letters & Caption competition Puppy Rex has found a veg box Regulars - In good company Promotions Contact details - arising from the articles in this edition of Forward Included here are six photographs. The first is of a cuddly toy version of guide dog puppy Flash. The second is of actor David Bradley raising a cuppa for Guide Dogs’ Virtual Tea Party and holding a Sponsor a Puppy calendar with 21st April circled. The third is of actor Joanna Page and guide dog puppy Flash sitting on some grass. The fourth is of children and young people service user Nell and her parents. The fifth is of Mollie and her black Labrador guide dog Tara. The sixth is of a mum and her young vision-impaired son playing together. Editorial contributions: Send your stories to Forward by email to forward@guidedogs.org.uk or by post to the Head Office address below. Unfortunately, due to the volume of ideas we receive, we cannot acknowledge every item. We reserve the right to edit or refuse. Subscription enquiries: You’re receiving this copy of Forward magazine as one of our valued supporters. Forward is available in standard print, Braille, large print and audio CD formats. It’s also available as an accessible PDF, as a plain text document and as audio files at www.guidedogs.org.uk/forward. If you no longer wish to receive this magazine, or if you wish to change the format in which it’s sent to you, please contact us on 0800 953 0113 or via guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk. Founding Editor: The late Captain Nikolai Liakhoff MBE FRZS Registered Head Office: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3YG Tel: 0118 983 5555 Web: www.guidedogs.org.uk Email: guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk © 2021 Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) Any products or services advertised in Forward by third parties are not in any way endorsed by Guide Dogs, and Guide Dogs shall not be responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in such advertisements nor has it investigated or verified any of the information. A welcome from Tom I can’t tell you what a relief it is to write this greeting with cautious optimism about the UK coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Of course things can change (very quickly, too) but, at the time of writing, the green shoots of normal life were well and truly sprouting. At Guide Dogs, we’re in a celebratory mood and not just because some restrictions are starting to ease. This year is the 90th anniversary of the UK’s first guide dog partnerships. On our front cover, there’s a striking photo of actor Joanna Page with our 90th anniversary puppy, Flash, named after one of our first four guide dogs. We’ve made a heart-warming short animated film about Flash to kick off the celebrations – find out more later in this issue. It’s fitting that our programme of investment into our sites is well underway, ensuring that we can help even more people with sight loss and their families into the next 90 years and beyond. Our new South West Regional Centre in Bristol has its official opening in early July, and our Reading Community Team has moved into a repurposed annexe alongside our Central Office on a site that’s now known as the Reading Hub. At the end of March, Trustees approved our plans to redevelop our site in Redbridge in north east London and create a new regional hub. There’s more in the pipeline, which I hope to be able to talk about next time. The 66 extra trainee Guide Dog Mobility Specialists and Guide Dog Trainers we recruited recently are all well on their way with their training, and they’re already helping our efforts to speed up training schedules and reduce waiting times. We’re recruiting even more trainees this autumn as we gear up to achieve our target of 1,000 new partnerships every year. Plus there’s more good news, as some of the virtual ways of helping people with sight loss that we were forced to adopt last year have become so successful that they’re here to stay. One great example of this is our My Time To Play service, which you can read more about later in this issue. Since my last Forward greeting, the guide dog mum that my wife Charlotte and I care for, Dolly, has had a litter of 10 healthy puppies. You can follow one of them, Niko, a Sponsor a Puppy named after one of our early trainers. We were a little worried as Dolly was a first-time mum in lockdown but she did amazingly well, thanks to the tremendous support of our National Centre. We’re so proud of the incredible part she’s played in what we do as a charity. I hope you all have a fantastic summer. Tom Wright CBE Chief Executive Guide Dogs @TomwrightUK on Twitter Included here are two photographs. The first is of Tom Wright CBE, Chief Executive, holding a young golden retriever guide dog puppy. The second is of black Labrador mum Dolly with her puppies. News Our 90th anniversary is set to be bloomin’ brilliant! As part of celebrations around this year’s 90th anniversary of the UK’s first guide dog partnerships, Guide Dogs will have a garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this September. The Guide Dogs 90th Anniversary Garden will be in the artisan small garden category. The designers, Jonathan Smith and Adam Woolcott, are Chelsea veterans with four coveted gold medals and three BBC/RHS People’s Awards for Best Small Garden between them. Our conceptual sensory garden will illustrate a journey from isolation and despair to enrichment, acceptance and joy. Set in the 1930s, it’ll reflect the beginnings of this charity with the first guide dog owners being veterans blinded in the Great War. Celebrating with a garden at Chelsea will also raise awareness of Guide Dogs as a charity and increase public understanding of sight loss, bringing the issue to new audiences. You’ll notice lots more references to the anniversary throughout this magazine and for all the latest plans, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk from the autumn. 1931 2021 Guide Dogs 90 Years Own your very own adorable cuddly toy Flash We’ve made a heart-warming animated film to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the UK’s first guide dog partnerships this year (more later in this issue). The film is called Flash, after one of those first four guide dogs, and we’ve released an adorable soft toy version of Flash which is available from the Guide Dogs Shop. This yellow Labrador toy is the perfect cuddly companion for little ones and collectors alike. Made from soft acrylic fabric, Flash has cute puppy eyes and weighted paws. This is an exciting year for the Guide Dogs Shop, as we’ll be re-launching our online store with an updated design and much-improved shopping experience. We’ll be introducing brand-new product ranges, including a 90th anniversary gift range in celebration of the milestone we have reached this year. All profits raised from purchases go towards the many services Guide Dogs provides to help people with sight loss to live the life they choose. Visit www.guidedogsshop.com. Included here is a photograph of cuddly toy Flash. Welcoming royalty – virtually! We were delighted to virtually welcome Their Royal Highnesses Edward and Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, to meet some of the staff, volunteers and service users local to our Forfar centre in Scotland in January. On what was an official engagement, The Earl and Countess learned of the exceptional work of our staff and volunteers in the previous year, despite the challenges of Covid-19. This included coming up with creative ideas for fundraising, campaigning and the fostering of trainee guide dogs at short notice. Claire Kinnaird, a fosterer from Dundee, told the royal couple: “I’ve been so well supported by Guide Dogs throughout, even when it has become remote. I live alone so a trainee guide dog was a fantastic companion for me, which I know he will also become for someone with sight loss.” Their Royal Highnesses also heard from Nicky Smart, who had qualified with guide dog Shane, and Dianna Simpson, whose child was supported by Guide Dogs’ Children and Young People services throughout the pandemic. Included here are images from the virtual meeting, with Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar and some of the staff, volunteers and service users who participated. Percy the guide dog… and best man When Allen Richardson and his wife Margaret renewed their vows, Allen’s guide dog Percy had a starring role… as best man! Margaret was receiving palliative care at a hospice in Wimbledon, London, when the ceremony took place last summer and, because Covid-19 restrictions were still in place, the couple couldn’t be together. So the whole event was conducted via video technology linking up Allen, Margaret and the vicar of their local church. Hospice staff made a beautiful wildflower bouquet for Margaret and after the vows, everyone shared a large homemade wedding cake. Allen said that Percy even managed to make it on to the video call. Allen, who originally married Margaret in 1987, said: “I wanted to marry her again to impress on her how I felt about her. The hospice staff were brilliant. It was a full hour-long ceremony with hymns and everything. They did all they could to make sure that Margaret understood what was going on, as she was also blind like me. Sadly Margaret passed away in August after a long illness, but I’m so pleased I got the chance to show her just how much I loved her.” Included here is a photograph of a video call on a mobile phone between Allen, Margaret and their vicar at the couple’s vow renewal. All aboard with pressing transport changes Guide Dogs Cymru has been lobbying to make Wales a safer place for vision-impaired pedestrians and passengers. This summer, 20mph speed limits will be introduced in eight trial areas and, from July 2022, councils in Wales will be able to target hot spots and issue increased fines for people who park on pavements unnecessarily. The move will be boosted by a public awareness campaign. Guide Dogs Cymru is also pressing for tactile paving to be installed on all railway station platforms in Wales to warn vision-impaired passengers that they’re nearing the platform edge. The danger was highlighted by the death of a man with sight loss who fell onto the track at a station near London last year. External Affairs Manager Andrea Gordon said: “Some 63% of station platforms in Wales currently have no tactile paving, and many stations are unstaffed. “Inconsistency leads to confusion, and some passengers may wrongly assume that because there’s no tactile paving, they are not near the platform edge. This puts them at unacceptable risk, particularly on rural stations.” Making Guide Dogs even more accessible Guide Dogs has teamed up with a specialist provider to make our information more accessible to people who are deaf-blind. We support a number of people who are dual-impaired, so we want to ensure our information is accessible to anyone who needs it, including people who use British Sign Language. We’re therefore delighted to be teaming up with video relay service provider SignVideo on an online interpretation service. This means if you would like to contact Guide Dogs via British Sign Language, you can call us via SignVideo and an interpreter will appear in an instant. You can find the link to the service on either the contact us page on our website www.guidedogs.org.uk/contact-us, or on SignVideo’s Directory on their app. Good Dog! makes life with your dog a walk in the park With 90 years of world-leading dog training expertise, we’ve created our very own training and welfare product for the nation’s dogs and the owners who love them! Our monthly subscription service contains advice and guidance from our expert trainers through regular emails, step-by-step training videos and seasonal gifts sent in the mail. From advice on loose-lead walking and recall, to enrichment games and helping your dog deal with stress – there’s so much to learn and enjoy with Good Dog! Good Dog! doesn’t just help pet dog owners have a happy, well-behaved canine companion. The £10 per month subscription also allows us to provide vital support to people living with vision impairments, so they can live their life with confidence and freedom. Visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/good-dog to find out more. Raising a cup to National Tea Day Guide Dogs celebrated National Tea Day in style again this year with our Virtual Tea Party. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us for a cuppa, take a tea selfie and show people with sight loss they are not alone. People joined us from home, from work and from their sunny gardens. Many of our wonderful volunteers and guide dog owners took part with lots accompanied by some of our life-changing dogs! Unfortunately, we didn’t break last year’s Guinness World Record this time around. We knew it was going to be an epic challenge, but we’re still the official record holders for the world’s biggest virtual tea party as no-one anywhere in the world has come close to beating our amazing 2020 total. Included here is a photograph of actor David Bradley raising a cuppa for Guide Dogs’ Virtual Tea Party and holding a Sponsor a Puppy calendar with 21 April circled. Media highlights Guide Dogs in the media We’ve released our first immersive reading book, The Gruffalo, complete with a sniff kit containing the smells of the characters – making bedtime stories inclusive and fun for the whole family and raising awareness of our children and young people’s services. We launched the kit on BBC Breakfast, with coverage then spreading from more than a dozen local BBC radio stations to the World Service. The Sunday Express, Sky News, Daily Star and Sunday Mirror also featured the kit. Included here is a photograph of a dad reading The Gruffalo to his young daughter and son while they smell the sniff kit. In April, ITV’s Evening News programme covered how former guide dog puppy in training, Mason, had a new temporary job helping nurses at the Royal Bolton Hospital in Lancashire. Mason provided emotional support while he was waiting to be placed with a child with sight loss as a buddy dog. The piece featured on the ITV News website, and the story was also covered by Manchester Evening News online. Included here is a photograph of yellow Labrador Mason sitting in a garden with a nurse. BBC 2’s Great British Menu helped us celebrate our 90th anniversary, as the theme of this year’s series was British innovation and invention. Competing chef Dan McGeorge took inspiration for his dessert course dish from our founders, Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond, as he’s from Liverpool, where UK guide dog training began. The show featured an interview with North West Operations Manager Sally McCoy about our history. Dan won his regional heat and then his dish, titled Give a Dog a Bone, was chosen by judges for the dessert course at the show’s finale banquet. At the end of the feast, guests then voted him Champion of Champions! Included here is a photograph of Dan’s dog bone-shaped dessert on a plate, presented on a wooden board with “Flash” burnt on to the board. Sian Healey and guide dog Uri took part in Off The Leash, a regular feature on BBC 1’s Morning Live in which dog walkers meet outdoors to discuss the issues of the day. Filming took place at Hailey Park in Cardiff, where Sian turned the debate to the difficulties of social distancing with sight loss. Included here is a photograph of Sian Healey and yellow Labrador guide dog Uri in her garden. Star news Celebrity support Joanna’s new friend is so Flash We kicked off our 90th anniversary celebrations by launching our wonderful Flash animation. Flash is an adorable guide dog pup named after one of the first four guide dogs back in 1931. The three-minute film tells the story of Flash and her puppy raiser Annie, following them on their first year together. Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page voiced a special audio version of the story, created specifically for people with sight loss. She even got a chance to meet the real-life Flash. Joanna said: “It was such a pleasure to meet the adorable Flash. Her name carries so much history for Guide Dogs in its 90th year, and I’m delighted to help tell the story of Flash and other life-changing dogs like her. Of course Flash’s incredible journey wouldn’t be possible without Guide Dogs’ amazing volunteers. I was so pleased to be the voice of Flash in the audio story, which means everyone can enjoy this wonderful tale.” To enjoy the animation, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/flash. Included here are two photographs. The first is of actor Joanna Page and guide dog puppy Flash sitting on some grass. The second is of the animated version of Flash. John Barnes reimagines his legendary rap England football legend John Barnes reimagined his iconic rap from the 1990 FIFA World Cup song World in Motion to encourage people to take part in our Walk Your Socks Off challenge in May. John said: “It was my absolute pleasure to record a very special version of my rap from World in Motion especially for Guide Dogs’ Walk Your Socks Off challenge, 31 years after its original release for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Walk Your Socks Off is something that anyone can do, by themselves or teaming up with others.” You can still listen to John’s Walk Your Socks Off rap at www.TinyURL.com/WYSORap. Included here is a photograph of John Barnes holding a brightly-coloured, multi-patterned sock. “You’re all the kipper’s knickers” Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott and Countdown’s lexicographer Susie Dent recorded wonderful messages of thanks for our Virtual Volunteer Awards event in March. Susie thought it might be fun to give us some alternative names for the award categories – some words from the historical dictionary that, to her, still pack a punch. She ended by telling everyone they were “the kipper’s knickers”, which dates back to 1920s America and indicates something excellent, admirable or first-rate. Included here are two photographs. The first is of Ainsley Harriott sitting on the floor of his home, with his yellow pet Labrador Bobby on a sofa behind him and the dog’s paws resting on his shoulders. The second is of Susie Dent standing in a garden. Jess’s Silver Linings Jess Impiazzi released her autobiography, Silver Linings, in January, with a chapter on why she became a Guide Dogs ambassador and her mum’s guide dog journey. Campaigning On the campaign trail We’ve been looking at the issues surrounding e-scooters, as well as campaigning for children and young people’s support E-scooter awareness As e-scooter rental trials continue, we’ve been working to raise awareness of the hazard that their misuse can cause to people with sight loss. We have seen reports across the country of e-scooters being ridden on pavements and parked inconsiderately, with guidance on their usage ignored and unenforced. Private e-scooters still remain unregulated, despite being present on our streets. Guide Dogs has been engaging with retailers, local authorities and law makers to ensure the safety of pedestrians with sight loss; most recently, MPs met people with vision impairments who shared their encounters with e-scooters. Visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns to find out more about our work on e-scooters in your area. Making childhood equal for everyone At the end of last year, MPs heard directly from children and their families about the vital importance of specialist support for children and young people with sight loss. At our well-attended online event with Westminster MPs, Nell, Kelsey and Erin and their families talked about their experiences with local authorities, in mainstream and specialist education, and highlighted what they think needs to change. We’re working for a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support to live the life they choose. That starts with making childhood equal for children and young people with sight loss. To help take this work forward, Guide Dogs is setting up our Creating the Future Commission. We believe there should be a consistent and ambitious pathway to support children with sight loss across the UK from the point of diagnosis through to their transition to adulthood. Every young person should be able to access the support they need to pursue their ambitions and achieve their full potential. Find out more at www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns. Included here is a photograph of children and young people service user Nell and her family. Volunteering Go figure: the story behind our volunteering stats Ask any data analyst about statistics and you could be forgiven for feeling lost in a “numbers” conversation, without really knowing what it all means and how it relates to real life. But it’s their job – a bit like Sherlock Holmes – to find clues within the data, bring it to life and tell the story behind the stats. To do this, they need to collect the stories and information. So, how does this happen? At Guide Dogs, we carry out detailed research every two years with our volunteers and staff to find out what’s going well and where we can develop. It’s called a Volunteer Impact Assessment. What we evaluate is decided by staff and volunteers from across different teams. As a result of feedback from the 2019 survey, we made a number of improvements. This included introducing new volunteer induction days, new staff training in supporting volunteers, a new approach to volunteer communications, and work to improve our response times to enquiries about fundraising or speaker roles. Our new dedicated customer care team is also now in place. Earlier this year, we conducted our Volunteer Impact Assessment. James Needham, Project Lead, said: “In 2021, it wasn’t surprising that there was a lot of interest in seeing how we’d responded to the pandemic and what had or hadn’t worked as we shifted to remote working for different volunteer roles. “Staff and volunteers identified a very wide research brief and we’re grateful to those who fed back in surveys and workshops. Not everyone wants to complete a detailed survey and in response, volunteers will also see shorter “Pulse” surveys to complement the deeper research.” The January 2021 Pulse survey showed that while volunteers understood the connection between their role and Guide Dogs’ aims, we’ve seen more volunteers feeling that we’re not communicating information about their role, and fewer feeling that they’re making a useful contribution. In response, we’ve put a number of actions in place including awareness raising internally of the importance of keeping in touch locally. We’ve also equipped staff with the information and support they need, alongside our roadmap of activities to get back on track after Covid-19. 71% Of our volunteers would strongly recommend volunteering for Guide Dogs* 57 Is the average age of a Guide Dogs volunteer* 13 Million hours is how long it would take to carry out our volunteers’ roles each year** * Statistics from the 2019 Volunteer Impact Assessment. ** From the 2021 Pulse survey. Guide Line The new way to get information and advice from Guide Dogs staff Guide Line is the easy way to get in touch with Guide Dogs for help or to find out about our range of services. All you need is one telephone number to speak to a member of staff who will be able to answer your query straight away or put you in touch with the most appropriate person. By having a single number we’re able to help more people with sight loss more quickly, and be more consistent in how we offer support across the country. Our staff handle enquiries from the public, existing and potential service users and, in some instances, our volunteers – those who need a quick response to a dog health-related enquiry. There’s also an accompanying email address that complements our telephone service (details at the end of this article). In January, Guide Line replaced our Covid-19 information phone line, which was set up last year in response to demand for help. Since January, we’ve dealt with more than 11,000 phone calls and more than 9,000 emails. As the gateway to Guide Dogs’ support services for adults and children and young people, Guide Line Advisers are highly trained members of staff who are able to conduct “first conversations” – an initial chat that’s the important first step that people with sight loss make towards getting the help they need. Wendy Smith, Guide Line Operations Lead, said: “We’re receiving around 200 calls each day, which has been steadily increasing day-by-day. Some calls can last five minutes and some two hours. It all depends on what the enquiry is but as a rule, our first conversations with new and returning applicants take time because we’re really listening to the intricacies of people’s lives – all aspects including where they need help – and this is an area that cannot be rushed.” Included here is a photograph of a Guide Line Adviser talking on the telephone. Guide Line covers four areas: 1 Adult services: from a request for a new service to a current guide dog owner needing a new lead. 2 Children and Young People: starting with first conversations, habilitation referrals, buddy dogs and more. 3 Dog health: from volunteer Puppy Raisers and guide dog owners when a quick response is needed for either minor issues such as abrasions, or more serious health and welfare concerns. 4 General enquiries: anything and everything, including coordination of support for volunteering activities as well as fielding calls for our local community teams when someone doesn’t have a direct line for a member of staff or their volunteer manager. Guide Line is staffed by 11 advisers with four new advisers in training/about to commence training, along with three supervisors, one operation lead and one manager – with over 170 years of combined experience of working at Guide Dogs, including 50 years of guide dog owner experience. The majority of advisers have come from an operational community team background, dealing with puppy raising, dog health, My Sighted Guide and fundraising. In addition, we have four on-call dog health and welfare specialists every day to support Guide Line staff with any dog health issues they are not able to help with. Guide Line supports our By My Side strategy by allowing us to reach and help more people by 2023 as we grow our ability to provide information and advice. Call Guide Line on 0800 781 1444 (Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm) or email information@guidedogs.org.uk. Meet Guide Line Adviser, Maria McLaughlin “I joined Guide Dogs as an office junior in 1982 and since then, I’ve had many roles which have been wide ranging – from carrying out confidential work relating to staff and clients to supporting clients and dealing with vets. “I have supported different canine teams including puppy raising, guide dog ownership and dog health. I’ve also been lucky enough to rehome three retired guide dogs! “On Guide Line, it’s very busy but I do enjoy the client contact, particularly carrying out “first conversations” when someone is applying or reapplying for a guide dog. I’ve always enjoyed contact with our clients and when the role of Guide Line Adviser was advertised, I thought “that’s the job for me”.” Included here is a photograph of Maria McLaughlin. Puppy Raising for Excellent Partnerships Introducing Puppy Raising for Excellent Partnerships Puppy Raising for Excellent Partnerships (PREP) is our new standard way to raise our puppies which prepares them for their adult training and their future roles as life-changers. It brings together the latest positive reinforcement training methods, Guide Dogs’ expertise, and volunteer know-how to ensure we give our puppies the best possible start for their guide dog training. With PREP, everything begins with treating our puppies as individuals. This helps us to tailor support for their physical, behavioural and emotional development, and give them the important life skills they need to become confident and well-adjusted adult dogs. One key benefit of PREP is standardisation and consistency across our puppy raising schemes and how it aligns with our guide dog training programme – Standardised Training for Excellent Partnerships (STEP). Based on similar principles, PREP provides all the key learnings and behaviours puppies need to make the smooth transition into STEP. David Grice, National Head of Dog Training and Behaviour, said: “To prepare our puppies for guide dog training, we need to ensure they learn a range of skills growing up. These “key skills” will support our pups to transition into training and to learn the new behaviours required so they can carry out the many tasks they will need as a working guide dog.” Although PREP will standardise the way we raise our puppies and prepare them for training, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every Puppy Raiser and puppy will use the same techniques to achieve the same outcome at the same time. This is because PREP recognises puppies and their Puppy Raisers as individuals and provides the most appropriate learning for both. Through this standardised yet flexible approach, we’re able to adapt training techniques, methods and support to match the individual learning needs of our puppies and Puppy Raisers. For our volunteer Puppy Raisers, we’re introducing additional support via an online learning system called Kallidus to make it easier and more accessible to know how to raise our puppies whilst offering greater support and resources. This will include multimedia content, updated guidance, resources and dedicated support from our Puppy Development Advisors. It’s not just our puppies and their Puppy Raisers who will benefit from our puppy and person-centred approach – it’s their future partnerships too. Through our approach and framework, there are long-term advantages to how we raise our puppies and find a role they’re naturally suited to – whether that’s as a guide, buddy or companion dog. With any future role, our puppies learn important behavioural skills which make them a joy to live with! PREP is a significant investment in our puppy raising programme for both our staff and volunteers. PREP evolves and updates our puppy raising programme to build upon our current best practices and scientific evidence in relation to puppy development and training. Since last year, we’ve been investing in our puppy development staff so they can fully support the rollout of PREP to Puppy Raisers from July 2021. Mel Wharmby, Puppy Development Supervisor (South West and Wales), said: “Having trained on PREP, I feel extremely enthusiastic and confident about sharing it with my amazing volunteers and supporting other members of the puppy development team. “With the training, I’ve gained a wide range of up-to-date knowledge and understanding of dog training from both the external consultants we’ve worked with and other Puppy Development Advisors. I’ve even started using the PREP principles with my pet dog, Ragnar, who’s a six-year-old German shepherd. “I feel this is a positive way forward for Guide Dogs and the puppy department, and I can see it will make foundation training with our puppies much stronger.” Included here is a photograph of a Puppy Raiser training her guide dog puppy using PREP principles. We formed focus groups from members of Puppy Raising Consultative Groups, so there have been around 100 Puppy Raisers who have directly inputted into PREP. Here’s some of their feedback… “I’m really impressed with the thoroughness, layout and supportive, informative guidance they provide. I wish I’d had this when I started.” Alison Timms, Puppy Raiser, Puppy Raising Mentor and Puppy Raising Consultative Group member (Midlands) “Thank you again for allowing me to share this journey with you all. I’ve really enjoyed being involved and wish you well with (hopefully) the rollout later this year. It will be greatly appreciated I know!” Patricia Twaite, Puppy Raiser (South East) “Have been reflecting about what we saw yesterday and just wanted to say how positive I thought it was and how much I’m looking forward to it going live!” Sue Osario, Puppy Raising Mentor and Fosterer (North West) Stories Richard’s story When Richard Wadwell’s first guide dog died, it was a traumatic experience that left him struggling to get to work or have a social life. Fortunately, the problems didn’t last too long. Richard now has a confident new dog that is helping him do more than ever before. “When I got my first dog Ralph in 2012, he was a revelation to me,” says Richard. “I was born with bilateral cataracts and have had barely any sight since birth, but I always just got on with things and didn’t want to draw attention to myself. “It was only in my mid-30s that I decided to get in touch with Guide Dogs. It was the best move I could have made. As soon as I got Ralph, I felt for the first time that I could be spontaneous, go out whenever I wanted, and not rely on anyone else. “The best thing about getting Ralph though was he helped me get back into work. I’d been unemployed for a while after being made redundant, and was struggling to find another job. “Just two months after Ralph arrived, I decided to prove my worth by taking on two volunteer roles, at Citizens Advice and a local museum. “It was a great stepping stone. A year later I landed a full-time job in an office in the centre of Leeds. It meant a commute on the train from my home in Skipton but with Ralph by my side, it didn’t bother me at all. Compared to where I’d been a few years earlier, having Ralph felt like complete freedom.” Losing Ralph “Unfortunately, much of that freedom ended seven years later when Ralph passed away suddenly from a heart tumour. It was horrible. Losing a dog is not nice for anyone – but when you rely on them as well it’s really hard. “The biggest challenge was my job. I still had to commute and had to do it with a white cane – which I don’t like using at all. I find using the cane draining and slow, because you need to concentrate so much. “Pretty soon I was leaving home ridiculously early at 5:30am, just to make sure I got to work on time. I had no social life. With Ralph I would do things in the evenings with friends, maybe go to the pub, but now I was coming home exhausted and going straight to bed. “It felt like working and commuting just wasn’t sustainable any more. It was a huge blow to my confidence.” Back on track Richard said: “I shouldn’t have been too worried, because things are now better than ever. It started when I was matched with my new dog, Martin, and we began training together. “I could see the training had progressed since I’d done it with Ralph. You still do a two-week residential course, but then you also have to go through an additional, rigorous phase of training at home where you get each capability signed off step-by-step as you reach the right level. “Martin is a fantastic problem solver. We’ve got major road works going on near my home that change layout all the time, but Martin seems to love finding new ways to get around them. “Whenever we’re going somewhere new, I can feel the difference in his harness. He gets excited because it’s a new challenge for him to overcome. It’s amazing to witness really.” Looking to the future “Not long after I got Martin, the Covid pandemic and lockdown started, so I’ve been working from home like most other people. “There is better news on the horizon though, because I’ve been offered a new role at work that ultimately means I’ll need to go to our Manchester office one day a week as well as still going to Leeds. “I don’t know Manchester very well, and there will be new things to negotiate like trams – but with Martin working with me, the challenge doesn’t daunt me. I know we’ll be able to cope easily. After a year of working from home, it’s actually quite exciting! “One of the other upsides of lockdown has been that I’ve been walking five miles with Martin every day on different routes to keep us fit and occupied. It’s been fun, actually. I’ve discovered new parts of Skipton and routes that I never knew existed. “I’ve also realised that walking just for walking’s sake can be a pleasure. In fact, walking has become my relaxation, and that’s something I never would have thought I’d say a few years ago! I’ll definitely be doing a lot more of it in the future.” Included here are four photographs. The first is of yellow Labrador guide dog Martin guiding Richard through a churchyard. The second is of Richard stroking Martin in the park. The third is of Richard standing next to a canal. The fourth is of Martin guiding Richard along a shopping street. Stories A life of adventure Many people choose to leave a legacy to Guide Dogs as they know our services offer people with sight loss the chance to live a life of freedom and independence. We’d like to share the inspiring story of Mollie, who was able to go on many exciting adventures thanks to her guide dogs. Mollie was born in 1925 with the inherited condition Usher Syndrome, which causes hearing loss and sight loss. After spending many years in assisted living accommodation, she decided she wanted to be more independent, so applied for her first guide dog in 1973. Mollie had four guide dogs during her extraordinary lifetime. Nita, Bonnie, Alice and Tara all boosted her confidence, so much so that she began travelling. First she toured around England, then to British Columbia and Malta where, aged 62, she tried parasailing. She had to stand on the beach, run as fast as she could towards the water and then jump in the air! Two years later, she attended a disabled water sports day where she tried water skiing. Two instructors attached a longer bar to a motorboat and positioned themselves on either side of her. Mollie and her instructors managed to complete two circuits of the lake. Mollie has also taken part in archery, indoor climbing, flying, trampolining and camel riding. A tireless fundraiser for Guide Dogs, she participated in events like sponsored swims and tandem bicycle rides. Mollie also gave a monthly donation and left a gift in her Will when she died in April 2018, as Guide Dogs had made such a life-changing difference to her. She knew our vital work can only be made possible thanks to the generosity of people who leave a legacy gift. Find out more To find out how gifts in Wills can help people with sight loss live life to the full, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills. Included here are three photographs. The first is of Mollie parasailing. The second is of Mollie flying in a glider. The third is of Mollie and her black Labrador guide dog Tara. Stories Lucy’s Bowl In memory of a special son and a special dog An angler from Gloucestershire has raised more than £100,000 for Guide Dogs and named a guide dog puppy Ben in memory of his son. Keith Sykes, from Cirencester, founded Lucy’s Bowl fishing competition in 2011, named after his beloved pet dog, Lucy. Keith has since named 18 guide dog puppies through Guide Dogs’ Name a Puppy scheme, helping them on their way to becoming life-changers. Keith said: “We’d always used the money raised from the event to name guide dog puppies Lucy, up until last year. “In 2019 I sadly lost my son, Ben, who was 36, to bowel cancer. He was a linchpin in the success of Lucy’s Bowl and a trustee. He was always there in the background, supporting me and the whole event. “We had a trustees’ meeting at the beginning of 2020 and it was decided that, in memory of Ben, we would raise money to name pups after him too.” The first guide dog puppy named Ben by the event is a black retriever/Labrador cross, born in February last year. Keith added: “The aim for this year is to name 20 puppies either Lucy or Ben.” Last year’s competition, held in August at RK Leisure’s Wraysbury complex, near Staines in Surrey, saw 50 anglers taking part, with social distancing measures in place as outlined by the Angling Trust and the Government. This year’s 10th anniversary event is on 20-22 August, at the same place. Keith added: “We’d also like to say a massive thank you to the owner of RK Leisure, Raphael Khalili, for allowing us to use the complex free of charge for Lucy’s Bowl. Without his support, we’d struggle to hold the event and make it such a success each year. Guide dogs are life-changing, that’s what drives us all on. It’s amazing to think that this competition creates a legacy for my dog and now my son. It’s also very humbling to think that a dog and some anglers have achieved what we have.” Find out more To find out more about naming a guide dog puppy, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/nameapuppy. Included here are three photographs. The first is of Keith Sykes presenting Lucy’s Bowl to the 2020 winner. The second photograph is of the first guide dog puppy to be named Ben – a young black retriever/Labrador cross. The third is of Ben Sykes. A day in the life of… Penny Hefferan, Service User Voice Officer The first thing you notice when speaking to Penny Hefferan about her role is her passion for what she does. In early January, Penny started as Service User Voice Officer – making sure that what those who use our services are telling us is at the heart of everything we do. Sitting within Guide Dogs’ Campaigns Team, the role helps to shape everything from how Guide Dogs responds to things like public consultations, to the charity’s own campaigns. She said: “For me, it’s all about bringing a subject to life by enabling and empowering service users to find their own voices, so they can share their own lived experiences in their own words in the most eloquent way. They just might need a bit of help to do that, to get a bit of confidence perhaps.” It’s a good job she’s so motivated, as Penny had to hit the ground running. She said: “My very first task was organising our response to the Westminster Government’s UK-wide consultation on its national strategy for disabled people. “We ran a series of focus groups and interviews to delve deeply into some of the questions the survey posed. We then pulled the responses together and passed them to our Campaigns team colleagues, who used them to shape Guide Dogs’ response. It’s one thing for the Government to get responses to the questions they’re asking, but it’s something else for them to hear how things truly affect people. “One question I’m asking all the time is “how did that make you feel?”. Of course it’s awful to hear that a guide dog owner had a close encounter with an e-scooter. But it’s something else when you then learn that that experience made that person too frightened to go out alone again.” While she’s keen to make sure our service users’ voices are heard, Penny knows exactly what it’s like to be affected by things like access refusals and inaccessible streetscapes. Blind since birth, Penny got her first guide dog at the age of 19 and is now on her ninth dog, a yellow Labrador/retriever cross called Questa. Penny is currently keen to hear from anyone who’s blind or partially sighted who’s been affected by e-scooters. To get in touch, contact Penny via Guide Line on 0800 781 1444 (Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm) or email information@guidedogs.org.uk. Included here is a photograph of Penny Hefferan and her yellow Labrador/retriever cross guide dog Questa. Supporters Dear supporters, I’ve been so amazed by the tireless strength of spirit shown by our fundraisers and supporters as the Covid-19 pandemic has continued into this year. Even though there were more restrictions after Christmas, you found a way to carry on (safely) regardless. Whether that was by decorating your homes with festive lights like the Spinks and McKay families, or using social media to livestream a very close shave like Heather Worofka, you still kept yourselves busy raising vital funds to ensure that we can continue helping people with sight loss to live the lives they choose. I wish you all a safe, happy and healthy summer, whatever fundraising fun you have planned. Thank you once again and please keep safe. Maria Novell Fundraising & Commercial Director Included here is a photograph of Maria Novell. She is wearing a blue and white stripy cardigan and smiling at the camera. Riva, the guide dog puppy named by Arriva Buses Wales, has become a first-time father to a litter of eight healthy puppies. The handsome yellow Labrador was earmarked as a potential guide dog dad soon after his puppy visit to Arriva’s Bangor depot. Staff across North Wales raised more than £5,000 with a series of inter-depot events and on-board bucket collections, and went on to raise enough for a second puppy, which they will name Arri. Included here is a photograph of yellow Labrador guide dog puppy Riva sitting in the doorway of a bus. Hilary Reed, of Westbury, Wiltshire, is raising money to name a guide puppy after the late Captain Sir Tom Moore. Hilary, who’s part of Westbury and Warminster fundraising group, also fundraises individually and has been a Puppy Raiser since 1982, caring for more than 50 guide dog puppies. Despite the challenges of lockdown, Hilary is about halfway to her £5,000 fundraising goal. Hilary said: “He touched the nation and he seemed like the grandfather I never had! I just thought it would be quite nice to name a puppy after him as a tribute.” While the dog will be called Tom day-to-day, his paperwork will read Captain Tom. Included here is a photograph of Hilary with the guide dog puppy in training she is puppy raising, Doris, and a Guide Dogs dog-shaped collection box. Heather Worofka felt the chill after shaving off her long blonde hair to raise £870 for Guide Dogs Cymru. Heather, 26, persuaded dad Dave to wield the scissors after her local salon went into lockdown. The pair then swapped places, with Heather using a razor to remove Dave’s hair and eyebrows. Friends and followers watched the event live on Facebook. Heather said: “My guide dog Victor was not too keen on me afterwards!” Included here is a photograph of a bald Heather and her yellow Labrador guide dog Victor. Coleen Falconer-Copeland was devastated when guide dog Lauren passed away last year. She and her family decided to raise £2,500 to name a guide dog puppy in Lauren’s memory by what would have been her 10th birthday on 24 July 2022 – but they’ve already smashed their target! Through the sale of personal possessions and merchandise, plus generous donations from friends, family and members of the public, the team have raised almost £2,800. Included here is a photograph of Coleen in a busy shopping street. Tony and Eunice Spinks from Great Barton, West Suffolk, have fundraised for different charities by decorating their house for Christmas since 2004. In 2010, the pair decided to start raising money for Guide Dogs after borrowing a guide dog-shaped collection box from neighbours and Bury St Edmunds fundraising group volunteers, Bryan and Melita Garnham. Tony and Eunice have collected for us ever since, raising an average of around £150 each Christmas but last year, despite everything, they broke all records with £202. Included here is a photograph of the house, decorated with Christmas lights. Pete and Chris McKay, members of the Dales and District fundraising group and owners of black lab Harley (a former guide dog in training and now a much-loved pet), raised £1,026 over the Christmas period by adorning their home and garden in festive lights in the remote village of Healaugh in Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Included here is a photograph of the house and garden adorned in festive lights. Thanks to everyone who donned their tartan for Scotland’s Virtual Kiltwalk. Carol Danskin from Broughty Ferry walked and cycled 26 miles. Carol began fundraising to Name a Puppy in memory of her dad, Arthur. Incredibly, she has now raised almost £20,000 – enough to name her fourth pup. Carol said: “Dad would have been chuffed to bits. He sponsored puppies for a number of years and I’m doing this for him.” Included here is a photograph of Carol and a guide dog puppy in training at the beach. Lyn Dennis decided to organise a coffee morning for Guide Dogs after mum, Elsie Rosson, got her first guide dog 14 years ago. After speaking to her local Community Fundraising Relationship Manager, Pam Gratton, Lyn signed up as a volunteer group organiser and the Camborne, Perranporth and District group was formed. In the years since, this Cornwall-based group has held annual coffee mornings and organised collections almost every week. Sadly Elsie passed away in December last year, at the age of 93. Her last wish was to make a donation to Guide Dogs, giving £2,500 to name a future guide dog Elsa. Included here is a photograph of Elsie Rosson and a guide dog puppy at a Guide Dogs Christmas event. Leamington and Warwick fundraising group’s virtual Christmas fair raised nearly £1,000. They sold festive cards and wrapping paper plus volunteer-made handicrafts, and ran a “guess the number of dog treats in a jar” competition. Father Christmas and his four-legged helper hosted a virtual Zoom grotto, where children could chat to the man himself and the unforgettable words “Santa, you’re on mute” were heard. Included here is a photograph of Father Christmas with a guide dog puppy. CustomEyes Books Inspiring children to read with CustomEyes® Books Our CustomEyes® Books service specialises in tailor-made large print books for vision-impaired or dyslexic children and young adults. Every book we produce is customised to the exact needs of the reader – whether it’s a specific font, font size, word or line spacing and, of course, a selection of coloured paper to print on – we do it all! With more than 4,200 titles to choose from, there’s something for everyone. We have new releases alongside books from popular authors ranging from Biff, Chip and Kipper to Shakespeare. There are also educational texts such as Animal Farm and An Inspector Calls, and of course the ever-popular Harry Potter books. All books are sold at their Recommended Retail Price regardless of the final format and size produced. Our largest CustomEyes book to date is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was around 7,500 pages and resulted in 35 volumes. The CustomEyes Books team has worked tirelessly to ensure that children with sight loss can continue to read throughout the pandemic – with an average of 600 custom books produced each month. No mean feat! In September last year we launched the CustomEyes digital book store, allowing members to find and buy books in one easy process. Since then, orders virtually doubled overnight with an incredible 2,229 books ordered in the last four months of last year. Due to the interactive nature of our digital book store, it’s now easier and quicker for members to discover our catalogue and for us to offer promotions. So far this year, more than 2,600 books have already been ordered. To manage demand, the CustomEyes team recently moved their production office along with new equipment to a new space within our Reading Hub site. In future, we’ll add new features to improve the customer experience such as suggested reads based on order history and automated registration. For more information, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/customeyes. Included here are four photographs. The first is of the front cover of CustomEyes’ font guide which details the different fonts, font sizes, word and line spacing, and coloured paper available to readers. The second photograph is of the pages of a book laid out on a computer screen, ready to be printed. The third photograph is of a CustomEyes book being printed. The fourth photograph is of a finished CustomEyes book. My Time to Play Giving children the opportunity, independence and skills from an early age to live the life they choose is at the heart of our new My Time to Play programme. Launched in April 2021, this free service helps children with sight loss from birth to four years old to develop a broad range of skills through play in a group setting. Led by our habilitation specialists, these fun and supportive group sessions help children to develop a broad range of skills and encourage them to use their non-visual senses. Each session is based around a sensory story and includes songs, movement and related activities. One of our most popular sensory stories so far has been the specially “scented” version of The Gruffalo. Earlier this year, Guide Dogs created and released the smell of the Gruffalo and other characters from the deep dark wood to help make reading inclusive for the whole family. As a world first, these “scent kits” featured a different smell for each of the five well-loved characters which supports children with a visual impairment to bring the book to life. My Time to Play focuses on five key areas of your child’s development: concept development, sensory skills, fine and gross motor skills, self-help for children and communications. Parent Sarah Perkins said: “We really have loved every session so far! The very first session involved a bell. My son Alfie loved it so much so that he crawled for the first time ever to get the bell. “We have fun every week and will be so sad when it ends! Alfie loves all the songs and we sing them throughout the week. Both [Habilitation Specialists] Amy and Jess have been brilliant with engaging with us and answering questions on how I can help Alfie with his sight. The sessions have benefited us greatly. Thank you!” Not only does My Time to Play encourage social interaction and friendships between children but it also has the same benefit for parents. At our sessions, parents can access peer-to-peer support by meeting other families in similar situations and sharing their experiences. This can be an invaluable opportunity for parents, especially when it comes to picking up skills and knowledge that will help support your child’s early years development with confidence. My Time to Play consists of seven sessions with up to six families on each programme. Each session is delivered by a highly trained Guide Dogs Habilitation Specialist. Gillian Murdoch, Habilitation Specialist in Scotland, said: “I really enjoy delivering My Time to Play. I feel so privileged being able to engage with the children and their families and getting to know them. “It is very fulfilling watching the children’s reactions to the various sensory experiences. This can be a smile to a smell, reaching out to a sound, a curious look when exploring a new texture or excitement for their favourite song! But most of all having lots of fun learning new habilitation skills. “The team delivering the sessions have just as much fun as the children.” Due to Covid-19, My Time to Play is currently being delivered virtually but is expected to move to “in-person” sessions – Covid-19 permitting – in a phased way from September 2021. We’re also planning to expand the service across the UK by September next year. During this period of expansion, we’ll continue to run a virtual programme for families who cannot attend in-person sessions. Find out more For further information, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk and search “My Time to Play”, or to register to take part in the My Time to Play programme call 0800 781 1444. Included here are three photographs. The first is of a young girl smiling. The second is of a mum and her young vision-impaired son playing together. The third is of a young girl playing. Letters Flying support for Guide Dogs! One Saturday in 1989, my husband and I went into Basingstoke from the Hampshire village in which we lived. We saw two men selling raffle tickets to raise money for the first cross-channel microlight flight. Always keen to go up in the air in anything, I asked if they would take me up for a flight. Dressed in a padded suit, gloves and a helmet, off we went from Popham Airfield; pilot in front and excited me behind. We flew over Hampshire in perfect weather. I thought it would be good to use the event to raise some money for charity. For no particular reason, I decided on Guide Dogs. Although I only raised £21, I was invited to Reading to be presented with a framed photograph of a puppy called Apollo, so named because I flew into the sun. Then in 2017, I was in Cheltenham town centre when I spotted four men fundraising for Guide Dogs. After speaking to them, I decided to sponsor a puppy and have done so ever since. I currently sponsor Willow, the prettiest puppy I’ve had. And to this day, that photo of Apollo hangs among others of my aerial adventures. Dr Anne Dunn Included here is a photograph of Dr Anne Dunn in a microlight. Caption competition Puppy Rex was only eight weeks old when this adorable picture was taken of him investigating Puppy Raiser Eric Booth’s veg box in Bristol. Included here is a photograph of black Labrador puppy Rex sitting in a cardboard box with a vegetable leaf in his mouth. What would you caption this photo? Send your suggestions to: Forward, Guide Dogs, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, RG7 3YG or email forward@guidedogs.org.uk with your name, address and a daytime phone number. The winner gets a £10 Marks and Spencer voucher. The last competition winner is Sue Wolohan, from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, with the caption “Is this what it means to have the hare of the dog?” Congratulations, Sue! Included here is a photograph of black Labrador guide dog Olive in her garden with an oversized rabbit toy in her mouth. Competition rules This competition is open to anyone resident in the UK, except employees of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, their families and anyone connected with the competition. No purchase necessary. Proof of posting cannot be accepted as proof of delivery. No responsibility can be accepted for entries delayed, damaged or mislaid or wrongly delivered. Illegible entries will be disqualified. Only one original entry is allowed per envelope. The winners will be notified by either post or telephone and the results will be published in the next issue of the magazine. The winners must agree to the publication of their names, photographs and any publicity, if requested. In all matters concerning the competition the Editor’s decision is final. No correspondence can be entered into. Entry implies acceptance of the rules. The closing date for the competition is 31 August 2021. In good company Royal Canin saves guide dog owner hours of counting kibble! Teresa Reading lives in the West Midlands with her guide dog Baden and is one of 200 guide dog owners taking part in a weight management pilot project funded by our partner, Royal Canin. The project involves giving out talking digital scales so people with sight loss can accurately measure their dog’s food, helping them to manage the weight of their guide dogs. Before getting the scales, it took Teresa at least 10 minutes every day to count 200 pieces of kibble individually for her guide dog Baden. That’s 427 hours in total since she got Baden seven years ago! Teresa was aware of the importance of feeding Baden the correct amount but sometimes found this tricky. She said: “If I was distracted by the phone or doorbell when counting, sometimes I had to start all over again. If I spilt any kibble I had to recount!” Now it takes Teresa a fraction of the time each day. She said: “The scales are the best thing I’ve ever had – after Baden, of course! I am so grateful to Royal Canin.” Talking about the impact of the project, Martyn Cherry, PRO National Key Account Manager at Royal Canin, said: “It feels so good that as a business we continue to make a difference in people’s lives by supporting this simple task that we take for granted.” Included here is a photograph of Teresa holding the scales while her black Labrador guide dog Baden sniffs her face. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery are helping to transform lives Since 2018, the amazing players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised a whopping £3.5m to support our life-changing work! Players are supporting transformational projects, including the redevelopment of four new regional centres and one hub. Each new purpose-built centre will deliver Guide Dogs’ full range of sight loss services and meet the complex and growing needs of the sight loss community. They will help us achieve our ambition of doubling our reach to those who need our help by 2023. Players are supporting our new standardised guide dog training programme through the funding of new staff dedicated to delivering this training, including 20 Guide Dog Mobility Specialists. Players have also provided funding for an entire litter of guide dog puppies, who are currently undergoing their formal guide dog training! Supported by players of PEOPLE’S POSTCODE LOTTERY Awarded funds from POSTCODE ANIMAL TRUST Included here is a photograph of a young golden retriever guide dog puppy. Promotions The following are three advertisements that are presented in different places in this issue of Forward. 1. Guide Dogs Virgin RED WHATEVER HELPS YOUR CAUSE Donate Virgin Points to Guide Dogs and help change lives Join Virgin Red, Virgin’s brand-new rewards club, to earn Virgin Points on the everyday, and spend them on everything from Everyday Treats to Extraordinary Experiences. You can even use your Points for Good and donate to Guide Dogs and help transform a young dog into a future life-changing guide dog. Sign up now at www.virgin.com/virgin-red Download on the App Store GET IT ON Google Play Over 18s only, UK residents, membership required, terms and conditions apply Included here is a photograph of a young lady dancing. 2. Guide Dogs Parents, let’s talk tech! Technology is vital for children with a vision impairment. It supports learning, creativity, life skills and independence. That’s why we will soon be launching Tech for All. Whilst stocks last, we will offer a free Apple iPad or iPhone to children with a vision impairment (aged 3-18) to use outside of school. All you need to do to apply is fill in a simple form, and provide proof of your child’s vision impairment. Applications open soon, so find out more now at www.guidedogs.org.uk/techforall Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979). GD0442 05/21 Included here is a photograph of a vision-impaired boy using an iPad. 3. GIVEACAR Donate Your Car Fast | Free | For Charity 1 Tell us about your car or motorbike. We’ll arrange to collect it for free. 2 Depending on its condition, your vehicle will be auctioned or sold for scrap. 3 We’ll donate the proceeds to your chosen charity and send you a receipt. Free Collection | Any Car | Nationwide Call us on 0207 736 4242 or visit www.giveacar.co.uk to find out more In support of: Guide Dogs Giveacar is a non-profit social enterprise supporting over 1700 charities. Giveacar Ltd, New Kings House, 136-144 New King’s Rd, Fulham, London SW6 4LZ. Registered as a Company Ltd by Guarantee in England and Wales. No. 7128385 Contact details This is a list of phone numbers and contact details arising from the articles in this edition of Forward magazine. Virgin Red Visit: www.virgin.com/virgin-red Tech for All Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/techforall Chief Executive Twitter: @TomwrightUK Guide Dogs’ 90th anniversary Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk The Guide Dogs Shop Visit: www.guidedogsshop.com SignVideo Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/contact-us Visit: SignVideo’s Directory on their app Good Dog! subscription service Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/good-dog Flash animation Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/flash John Barnes’ Walk Your Socks Off rap Visit: www.TinyURL.com/WYSORap E-scooter awareness Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns Creating the Future Commission Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns Guide Line Call: 0800 781 1444 Email: information@guidedogs.org.uk Gifts in Wills Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills Name a Puppy Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/nameapuppy Penny Hefferan via Guide Line Call: 0800 781 1444 Email: information@guidedogs.org.uk CustomEyes® Books Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/customeyes My Time to Play Visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk and search “My Time to Play” Call: 0800 781 1444 Caption competition Post: Forward, Guide Dogs, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, RG7 3YG Email: forward@guidedogs.org.uk Giveacar Call: 0207 736 4242 Visit: www.giveacar.co.uk Close.