Last week (3 – 9 August) was International Assistance Dog Week, a time to celebrate the incredible work of assistance dogs and the life-changing difference they make every day. It’s also a chance to recognise and thank the amazing volunteers and staff who dedicate their time, care and expertise to helping these pups thrive on their journey.
We recently caught up with Lauren, a guide dog owner, speaker, and fundraiser. Lauren shares her story and how her guide dog, Grace, transformed her life and all the amazing things they've achieved together.
“Growing up, I went to mainstream schools and then worked full time as a nursery assistant. When I began to lose my sight, it felt very sudden; before 2013 I hadn’t even used a white cane.”
In 2016, Lauren lost the last of her sight and began to look into the services that Guide Dogs offered.
“I was initially resistant to Guide Dogs – I was adamant that I wasn’t blind enough and didn’t need a dog. And then when I decided I wanted one, it almost felt a bit too late. Although there was a waitlist for a dog, Guide Dogs supported me in ways I didn’t know they could. I began long cane training and technology training, plus advice on adaptations such as talking kitchen scales.”
At the end of 2018, Lauren was matched with Grace. It was the beginning of a great partnership, leading to many adventures together.
“The training was intensive, but the bond built quickly. I was terrified at each stage that I’d do something wrong, that I’d be told Grace wasn’t the dog for me, that I’d be left on my own again. Straight away I learnt about the emotional support that Grace and other guide dogs can help us with, over and above the mobility support that everyone knows about.
“Having Grace allowed me to go out on my own again. Whilst I had been out with my cane, Grace gave me the confidence to get lost. It was inevitable that I’d get lost, but I trusted that with Grace, she’d keep me safe. With Grace by my side, I commute into London, have flown on planes, been to many exciting and amazing places, but even the ability to visit my local post office is a gift from her in allowing me to stay safe and be independent.”
Last week (3 – 9 August) was International Assistance Dog Week, a time to celebrate the incredible work of assistance dogs and the life-changing difference they make every day. It’s also a chance to recognise and thank the amazing volunteers and staff who dedicate their time, care and expertise to helping these pups thrive on their journey.
We recently caught up with Lauren, a guide dog owner, speaker, and fundraiser. Lauren shares her story and how her guide dog, Grace, transformed her life and all the amazing things they've achieved together.
“Growing up, I went to mainstream schools and then worked full time as a nursery assistant. When I began to lose my sight, it felt very sudden; before 2013 I hadn’t even used a white cane.”
In 2016, Lauren lost the last of her sight and began to look into the services that Guide Dogs offered.
“I was initially resistant to Guide Dogs – I was adamant that I wasn’t blind enough and didn’t need a dog. And then when I decided I wanted one, it almost felt a bit too late. Although there was a waitlist for a dog, Guide Dogs supported me in ways I didn’t know they could. I began long cane training and technology training, plus advice on adaptations such as talking kitchen scales.”
At the end of 2018, Lauren was matched with Grace. It was the beginning of a great partnership, leading to many adventures together.
“The training was intensive, but the bond built quickly. I was terrified at each stage that I’d do something wrong, that I’d be told Grace wasn’t the dog for me, that I’d be left on my own again. Straight away I learnt about the emotional support that Grace and other guide dogs can help us with, over and above the mobility support that everyone knows about.
“Having Grace allowed me to go out on my own again. Whilst I had been out with my cane, Grace gave me the confidence to get lost. It was inevitable that I’d get lost, but I trusted that with Grace, she’d keep me safe. With Grace by my side, I commute into London, have flown on planes, been to many exciting and amazing places, but even the ability to visit my local post office is a gift from her in allowing me to stay safe and be independent.”
Lauren is also a speaker and fundraiser for Guide Dogs.
“In a way, it’s a bit selfish – I get a lot out of it. Each talk I’ve given has allowed me to build my confidence – and whilst I still have some way to go, I’m definitely a lot better than when I first started. That said, it’s also great that I get to educate the public, particularly when I can do this in my local area. Lots of people want to interact with guide dogs but don’t understand appropriate ways to do so or why they sometimes can’t.
“The ability to explain to a captive audience how we work alongside our dogs and the difficulties we face is something I always look forward to. I also, quite often, get to talk to other volunteers or staff members, and it’s great to get opportunities to thank them for their contribution to Guide Dogs and to highlight the impact of their hard work on myself and other service users.
“My husband and I both started volunteering when I started to lose my sight. Volunteering with Guide Dogs morphed into a way that I felt I could give back to an organisation that gave me so much. Even before I had Grace in my life, the support I received from the organisation has been transformative, and I’ll always say “yes” when I’m asked to do something for the charity, because I’ll never be able to repay them, their staff members and other volunteers for what they have done and continue to do for me.
“Years into being a part of Guide Dogs, whilst I still volunteer to give back, I’ve started to use it too, as a way to get out of the house, to give me a sense of purpose, and to build my own confidence and skills.”
Guide Dogs has been an Investing in Volunteers-accredited organisation for several years. This means we work to make sure that volunteering at Guide Dogs is the very best it can be, creating a positive and rewarding experience for everyone who gives their time to support our work.
At the end of 2025, we began the re-accreditation process. The initial steps involved a detailed self-assessment and a Volunteer View survey, where over 2,400 volunteers shared their feedback. We then started the formal assessment in June, and after 207 conversations (180 volunteers, 26 staff members and one trustee), we're delighted to share that we've successfully been re-accredited!
To tell us all about the assessment, we chatted to Janet, who is the lead Investing in Volunteers assessor and has assessed Guide Dogs since 2017. In the video below Janet shares her highlights from her conversations with volunteers as well as what stands out to her about Guide Dogs.
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We received a huge amount of positive feedback along the way, and we were particularly touched by a comment from a volunteer who, talking about their experience volunteering with Guide Dogs, said, “This is the best thing that has happened to me in my life.” Another volunteer shared: “I am in my 42nd year as a volunteer for Guide Dogs. My lanyard is full of badges recognising my service and contribution, and I feel very valued.”
While the majority of feedback was positive, the assessment team also identified some opportunities for us to improve further. Over the coming months, we'll be reviewing these recommendations alongside the findings from the Volunteer View survey to help shape our future plans and make volunteering at Guide Dogs even better.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this process, from sharing your valuable feedback in the Volunteer View survey to joining conversations with the assessors; your thoughts and feedback help us to continue to improve the volunteering experience at Guide Dogs.
Ready to get moving this summer? Thanks to fitness app Strava and Postcode Lottery, you can turn your everyday activity into vital support for Guide Dogs simply by walking, running, cycling, wheeling or moving your way through the challenge – no fundraising required!
Guide Dogs has been chosen as one of five charities for Postcode Lottery’s national Crowns for Causes campaign, and so far, our incredible supporters have raised over £750,000! This August, the challenge is bigger than ever: complete 30km throughout the month using the Strava app to unlock a Strava ‘crown’ and unlock a £200 donation to Guide Dogs – at no cost to you.
There are so many ways to get involved with the Crowns for Causes challenges – you don’t even have to change your routine! From logging your daily dog walks to summer holiday bike rides with the kids, this is an opportunity to raise funds whilst having fun. Every kilometre counts.
The challenge is open to everyone, whatever your fitness level. There’s no fundraising required – just sign up, get moving and make every step, stride or roll count towards a great cause.
Join the August challenge and help unlock funding that could change lives for people with sight loss.
WhatsApp and other messaging apps can be a useful way to coordinate volunteering activities, such as organising volunteers to support an event on a particular date. However, they can also present information security and privacy risks.
To reduce any risks, remember to:
Top tip: Before sending a message, photo, or attachment, ask yourself: Does this contain personal or sensitive information? If it does, don't share it.
It’s really important that our volunteers look after their wellbeing and safety, and we're here to help. In our latest Volunteer Views survey, 85% of responses reported that volunteering improves their wellbeing. However, we still believe there are things we can do to support how you feel day-to-day. That's why we've launched two new wellbeing tools to support you.
Firstly, we have launched a ‘Listening with Empathy’ short course, designed to help you feel supported and confident to have conversations with others which may be related to an emotional experience, such as the impact of sight loss or the loss of a dog. The course will guide you through active listening and responding with empathy while looking after your own wellbeing.
We’ve also launched a new webpage on the Volunteer Information Point, called Volunteer Wellbeing. On this page you’ll find information about:
Summer is one of our busiest times, and finding the right permanent and foster homes can be a little more challenging. Letting us know early makes a real difference and helps us plan ahead so more puppies can get the best possible start. If you've been taking a break and feel ready to welcome a puppy into your home again – even for a short time – we'd love to hear from you. Just get in touch with your local Puppy Development Advisor. If you're not sure who that is, email Guide Line, and they will be happy to point you in the right direction.
We have a few ways that you can puppy raise:
Perhaps you have always been curious about puppy raising and what it entails. Perhaps you are on the fence about applying to puppy raise. Or maybe you know someone who would make a great puppy raiser.
If this sounds like you, then please join or share our next Puppy Raising information event on Tuesday 21 July, to find out more about the role and get answers to some burning questions. We’d be grateful if you could tell others about this great way to get closer to the role and what it entails.
Can’t wait that long? Our friendly volunteering office is on hand to answer questions from you or members of the public. Call 0345 143 0191 or email volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk.
We now have more flexible ways to puppy raise than ever, so if full-term care is too long of a commitment, then we are also looking for volunteers who can provide a temporary starter home.
Newshound is the newsletter for staff and volunteers at the National Centre, and last month the publication reached an impressive milestone – its 25th edition! This issue is jam-packed with volunteer stories, staff interviews, and of course, a photo gallery of lots of the adorable puppies at the National Centre.
We headed to the National Centre to meet Caroline, volunteer puppy socialiser and editor of Newshound, to chat all about the latest issue and the history of Newshound.
You can watch Caroline’s interview, along with thank you messages from National Centre staff by watching the videos below.
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With temperatures continuing to reach extreme levels across many parts of the UK, we are currently advising that dogs and puppies should not undertake any exercise when temperatures exceed 24°C. We recognise that this guidance may be disruptive and differs from advice we have shared previously. However, given the intensity of the current heat and the prolonged heatwave conditions, it is essential that we take additional precautions to protect the welfare of both dogs and their handlers.
It’s important to remember how the heat affects dogs and puppies.
Dogs can take up to 60 days to adjust to changes in temperature, so warmer days can be particularly challenging. Unlike humans, dogs can’t regulate their temperature easily; they rely on panting to cool down. A few small changes can make a big difference. Here are some of our top tips:
Guidance around heatstroke
Heat stroke in dogs is a medical emergency, can develop rapidly, and is extremely difficult to reverse. By the point at which symptoms are evident, it can be fatal.
Clinical signs of heatstroke in dogs include panting, pale gums, lethargy, and drooling. In severe cases, dogs can show reluctance to move and seizures. It is vital that dogs don’t overheat, but dogs exhibiting symptoms should be gradually cooled down with cool (not ice-cold) water, then taken to the vet.
If you are concerned about your dog, please contact Guide Line (during working hours) on 0800 781 1444 or information@guidedogs.org.uk.
For our emergency out-of-hours service (5:00pm until 9:00am), please call 0345 143 0217.
If your dog is showing symptoms of heatstroke and requires immediate veterinary attention, please take them directly to your local vet and contact Guide Dogs afterwards.
We are pleased to introduce an important evolution within our organisation: the Rehoming Department is now the Career Change and Rehoming Team.
This change reflects an enhanced focus on identifying the best possible outcomes for dogs that do not continue within guide dog training, ensuring every dog has the opportunity to thrive in a suitable and fulfilling role.
Supporting every dog to succeed
The role of a guide dog requires an exceptionally high standard. While many dogs demonstrate outstanding potential, not all will meet the specific criteria required.
Our newly expanded team is now responsible for working collaboratively with Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) to explore alternative career pathways for withdrawn guide dogs.
ADUK is an umbrella organisation representing accredited assistance dog charities. Membership requires organisations to meet rigorous ethical standards in both dog welfare and training.
A new collaborative approach
Moving forward:
This approach allows us to maximise opportunities for dogs to continue working in meaningful roles while maintaining welfare as our top priority.
What this means for our volunteers
We recognise the vital role our volunteers play, and clear communication remains a priority.
For those with an EOI:
Creating a dedicated fosterer rehoming network
As part of this development, the team is building a dedicated fosterer network located close to our Career Change and Rehoming Specialists.
This will enable us to:
Please note: any decision to move a dog into this foster network will be made carefully, with full consideration of the individual dog’s needs, circumstances, and overall wellbeing.
Get involved
We are actively looking to grow this foster network. If you — or anyone you know — may be interested in this rewarding volunteer opportunity, please get in touch with the team.
Learn more
Over the coming months, we will be hosting “Meet the Team” virtual events, offering an opportunity to:
We look forward to sharing more with you soon.
Welcome to the new look Volunteer Information Point (VIP) – your online information and resource hub for volunteering news, resources, training, stories, and information on your role(s). VIP can now be easily accessed from the Volunteering section of the Guide Dogs website.
We’ve now completed the first phase of restructuring and revamping VIP. In this initial development phase, we have focused on changes to how you access and navigate VIP and core information (website structure and content). Please note that many role-specific sections of VIP, such as puppy raising and community fundraising, as well as new topic areas/sections, are yet to be worked on. These sections haven’t changed yet. But they will do so soon.
Please watch this short video for a virtual tour of the new-look VIP.
You can also share your views on the changes made so far by either completing a very short survey that will pop up on screen when on VIP or share more in-depth feedback via a longer VIP survey.
We hope that many of our volunteers will never need to use our emergency out-of-hours service, but it’s helpful for everyone to know that it’s available and understand what it’s for and when to use it.
What is our emergency out-of-hours service?
Our emergency out-of-hours service is a dedicated phone number to call with urgent problems that absolutely cannot wait for a response until the next working day. For example, a time-sensitive safeguarding issue, an urgent worry over a dog’s health or, in the unlikely event of a dog going missing.
In out-of-hours situations where you consider your dog’s symptoms to be life-threatening or an emergency, please contact your local emergency out-of-hours veterinary provider first, then call us if urgent assistance or support is required or update us via Guide Line if it's non-urgent the following day.
The emergency out-of-hours service is available every day, from 5:00pm until 9:00am, weekends and bank holidays. The emergency out-of-hours number is 0345 1430217. It operates on a rota basis by Guide Dogs staff who are “on call” for emergency calls only. If you have an emergency during office hours, please call Guide Line (more info below).
Which problems can't the emergency out-of-hours service help with?
While having any kind of problem may seem urgent at the time, most can be dealt with the next day with a little patience. This includes things like running out of dog food, the loss or damage of equipment/dog leads, rearranging an appointment, etc.
What if I run out of dog food?
Please do not use the emergency out-of-hours service if you’ve run out of dog food. You should always try to keep at least seven working days of food at home before reordering (to allow for delivery times). We know that running out of dog food can sometimes happen, but there are other options available to you, such as asking a nearby volunteer whom you know or buying a small bag of food until your dog's food order arrives. Remember, you can claim this amount back via volunteer expenses.
If you need to reorder food for your dog, this can be done by calling our Royal Canin colleagues on 0345 606 9498 (local rate), allowing at least five working days for the order to be fulfilled. They also have an email address to place an order at any time: ProfOrders.GBR@royalcanin.com.
What happens if I have a question or problem during the day?
The first port of call for any questions should be to our highly trained colleagues at Guide Line. They work closely with our local teams, in-house vets, and all our non-dog services, from Sighted Guiding to technical support.
Guide Line operates during office hours, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, and can help with everything from a new piece of equipment to a concern over a behavioural issue or practical mobility skills.
Contact Guide Line on:
Why do we have an emergency out-of-hours service?
At Guide Dogs, the care and welfare of our dogs and people are a top priority, and we have several ways in which concerns or questions can be dealt with. It’s important for our dogs and people that we get all queries answered by the most appropriate person, and as a charity we need to ensure that we are making the best use of our resources and time. Therefore, it’s important that only urgent concerns or issues are called through to our emergency out-of-hours service.
Further information
For information on the Guide Dogs emergency out-of-hours service, developing an understanding of your local vet’s emergency veterinary care provision and general health information, please read:
Guide Dogs emergency out of hours line and out of hours veterinary care
The Crowns for Causes challenge is continuing, and July’s challenge starts tomorrow. The aim of the ‘Fundraise 4 Hours’ challenge is to log four total hours of activity between 8 and 28 July. Complete the challenge, unlock the crown and raise £100 without spending a penny. Join the challenge now and move in any way that works for you.
You can find out more information about the Crowns for Causes campaign and Strava by heading to ‘June news’ here on the Volunteer Information Point.
It was great to see so many of you completing last month’s challenge, and we’d love to see what activities you're completing this month. To share your challenge photos, please send them to VolunteerComms@guidedogs.org.uk.
Our People Awards recognise the stand-out efforts and expertise of our volunteers, service users and staff; the unsung heroes who sit among us, quietly (or sometimes loudly) doing an amazing job and helping people with sight loss live the life they choose.
Sometimes, a simple “thank you” doesn’t feel like enough. The People Awards give you a meaningful way to recognise and celebrate your friends and colleagues.
The nomination window is now open, and we’re inviting you to put forward your nominations for Guide Dogs members of staff (individuals or teams) and service users.
Nominations for volunteers have now closed for this year’s People Awards. Winners of the three volunteer categories at the 2026 People Awards will be chosen from June’s Local Volunteer Awards recipients.
Award Categories
There are three award categories for members of staff:
There are four award categories for service users:
What to do next?
It’s easy to nominate a member of staff or service user for this year’s People Awards:
For more information about the staff and service user award categories and to nominate, please visit the respective nomination forms: staff nomination form and service user nomination form.
The deadline for all nominations is 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August.
Does your dog have long-term medication, such as for a skin condition?
Our new agreement with The Animal Charity Platform could help us save 50% on medication costs because they provide lower-cost medicines to charities. The following dogs are eligible: guide dog puppies, dogs in training, guide dogs, and retired or rehomed guide dogs. This means that if you look after any of these dogs, you can help us save money.
We will register your dog, explain the process, and provide in-person support where needed to help you set up your own account. Once ordered, the medication will be delivered to your door, saving you a trip to the vet and saving us vital funds.
If your dog receives long-term medication and you’d like to find out more, please email us at scripts@guidedogs.org.uk.
Last month we celebrated Volunteers’ Week by sharing real stories that capture not just the impact our volunteers create but also how it feels to make a difference at Guide Dogs – the joy, connection, and sense of purpose and accomplishment gained from volunteering. Throughout the week, we shared a series of powerful and uplifting volunteer stories. Each one offering a glimpse into the impact of volunteering – the moments of pride, companionship, and transformation that make giving your time so meaningful.
We kicked things off with Elaine’s story, a dedicated puppy raiser and fundraiser, who discovered a renewed sense of purpose and joy through her volunteering with Guide Dogs.
Our second story followed Ros. After retiring, Ros discovered a new sense of joy and purpose through fostering, welcoming dogs into her home and supporting them on their journey.
In the video below, we hear from some of the volunteer winners and runners-up who attended the London Volunteer Awards.
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As well as sharing real volunteer stories, Volunteers’ Week also saw the return of our Local Volunteer Awards with celebrations taking place all across the country. Thank you to our sponsor Petplan for kindly supporting these events.
Volunteers' Week (1-7 June) kicks off today – a week dedicated to recognising and celebrating the contribution of volunteers. As volunteers, you know that volunteering brings rewarding moments, proud achievements and lasting memories — and for some, the bittersweet experience of seeing the puppies you’ve supported move on to the next stage of their journey, knowing they will go on to become life-changing dogs.
For this year’s Volunteers’ Week, we’re celebrating the heart of volunteering at Guide Dogs by sharing real stories that capture not just what our volunteers do, but how it feels – the joy, connection, and the sense of purpose and accomplishment they gain from volunteering. Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing a series of powerful and uplifting volunteer stories. Each one offers a glimpse into the impact of volunteering – the moments of pride, companionship, and transformation that make giving your time so meaningful.
We’re delighted to begin with Elaine’s story, a dedicated puppy raiser and fundraiser, who discovered a renewed sense of purpose and joy through her volunteering with Guide Dogs. Her story is a wonderful example of how giving back can open the door to connection, fulfilment, and truly life-changing experiences.
Our second story follows Roz. After retiring, Roz discovered a new sense of joy and purpose through fostering, welcoming dogs into her home and supporting them on their journey. Through her volunteering, she’s found companionship and the simple happiness of knowing she’s making a difference — all while staying active, meeting new people, and enjoying the flexibility to live life on her own terms.
Our final story comes from Helen, a puppy class helper. Helen tells us how she finds real joy in her role, and how a monthly commitment brings meaningful connection, new friendships, and the simple happiness of watching puppies grow and thrive on their journey to become a guide dog.
You can read Elaine's story today. Make sure to keep checking the blog and our volunteer social media pages throughout Volunteers’ Week for coverage of our Local Volunteer Awards, video snippets from our volunteer interviews, and more.
Guide Dogs is proud to be one of five charities selected for a new national campaign this summer called Crowns for Causes, organised by Postcode Lottery and the motivational fitness tracking app, Strava.
Postcode Lottery has created their own Strava Crowns - digital awards that are given to people that complete physical activity challenges. Strava users simply complete one of the monthly challenges and nominate Guide Dogs as their chosen charity within the app, unlocking a £50 donation from Postcode Lottery that will help change the lives of people with sight loss.
There’s no need to start marathon training - these challenges are for everyone, and every bit of movement counts. Whether you run, walk, row, dance or just keep doing the activities you already love, you can join in and make it count. Just log your activity on Strava to unlock a donation!
You can find out more about Crowns for Causes here.
More information on Strava
You can download Strava on iOS via the App Store or on Android via Google Play. It’s free – the paid version includes enhanced features (new users are usually offered a free trial), but the free version does everything you need for Crowns for Causes.
You can choose from many sports – or simply put ‘workout’ under the ‘gym’ option.
You have flexibility over who sees your activity – just you, your friends on Strava, or everyone.
You can choose to upload maps showing your route, or keep it hidden for privacy – in the privacy options you can also choose to hide the start/end of your route, so if you go on a walk, run, etc from home, your address doesn’t appear.
Encourage each other by ‘liking’ people’s activities (this is called ‘kudos’ on Strava).
Routes that you or others regularly take will be automatically recognised by Strava as a ‘segment’ – you can see how you compare to others in your area, race against yourself, or just see how popular your route is with others.
You can use Strava on your phone, apple watch, or other device – you just need to have it with you.
You’ll need an internet connection to upload your activity to your account once it’s finished but otherwise you only need GPS if you are tracking a route.
Upload photos from your activity and share it with us so we can all celebrate you taking the extra step for Guide Dogs!
Every activity you log for Guide Dogs helps us change lives and it is not about being the fastest or going the furthest, we are grateful for your support and we hope you enjoy Crowns for Causes!
We look forward to our Local Volunteer Awards every year, and our 2026 celebrations are kicking off this week. The celebrations are taking place all across the country – with most of our awards taking place this month and some happening later this summer.
We receive hundreds of nominations every year, and every volunteer who receives a Pat on the Back is put forward for a nomination. Last year, the Meet Guide Dogs Group in Liverpool was nominated for our Engage award. Their nomination shared details of their commitment and sense of community: "They are a fantastic group of people who work tirelessly raising funds and awareness for Guide Dogs and each person affected with sight loss. They engage with their community, get involved, and I am nominating them for a volunteer award to recognise the time, dedication and support they have provided to Guide Dogs and myself over many years.”
We’ll be sharing highlights from the awards this week and can’t wait to hear the powerful stories of our dedicated volunteers. Thank you to everyone who nominated a fellow volunteer, and thank you to all our wonderful nominees for your amazing contributions to Guide Dogs.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a time to discuss and learn more about digital access and inclusion and the experiences of over one billion people worldwide living with disabilities or impairments.
Whether you are sending emails, posting on social media or sharing documents online, there are a number of simple ways you can make it more accessible. We're sharing our top ten accessibility tips in our Global Accessibility Awareness Day video.
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We are currently in the process of completing our Investing in Volunteers re-accreditation, and as part of this we really want to hear directly from you. Members from the organisation Volunteer Now will be speaking to Guide Dogs volunteers about their experiences in late June, and July.
Thank you to the many volunteers who have already expressed an interest in taking part – we're incredibly grateful for your support. If you’d like to join a session, please complete the participant interest form.
We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to complete last month’s Volunteer Views survey; we really appreciate it. We received a fantastic response.
The survey is such an important way for us to hear your voice, understand what matters most to you, and identify where we can keep improving. Your input also plays a key role in supporting our renewal of the Investing in Volunteers accreditation.
Over the summer, we'll review your feedback, and once it's been analysed, we’ll share the results with you so you can see what we’ve learnt.
At Guide Dogs we offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities, from puppy raising to fundraising; there’s a role for everyone. The events are a chance to learn more about our different opportunities, ask any questions, and connect with one of our amazing volunteers. To see what’s coming up in June, head over to volunteering events.
If you can’t wait for one of our events and would like more information about a role, you can get in touch with the Volunteering Office.
There are many different ways to get involved with Guide Dogs, and every volunteer role plays an important part in making a massive difference to the lives of children and adults with sight loss. One of the more behind-the-scenes opportunities is volunteering as a puppy class helper. We recently visited a local class and spoke with Helen, who shared how this rewarding role brings her joy and a real sense of connection.
After seeing a Guide Dogs advert on Facebook, Helen had a look at what volunteer roles were available in her area, and ‘puppy class helper’ popped up. “I mean, who could resist?” says Helen. “It’s a great opportunity to get to meet the puppies, but it’s also been a great way for me to meet new people – it turns out that some people live just around the corner from me.”
Helen’s role as a puppy class helper sees her supporting the Puppy Development Advisor during sessions in her local area, usually just one morning each month. While the time involved is minimal, the impact is meaningful - Helen truly enjoys every session and looks forward to it. The role brings her a real sense of joy and connection to other volunteers, showing that even a small contribution can make a big difference. “I come and help out once a month, so it’s not a huge commitment which suits me. I’d recommend to people to give it a go – it's something I look forward to every month,” explains Helen.
Before the class begins, Helen makes sure everything is set up. "A big part of my role is to support the Puppy Development Advisor who is running the session. That includes helping set up the space, putting water bowls out and getting equipment ready for the class.”
After the class, the pups get a chance to socialise while the puppy raisers catch up over refreshments. For Helen, it’s one of the highlights of the role: “I’ll be on tea duty and get to chat away to lots of other lovely volunteers. The dogs are just great. I’ve done the role for about a year now, so I’ve seen them grow from tiny little things into big dogs ready for the next stage of their journey. It’s always great to hear when a dog has gone to big school.”
Guide Dogs commits to ensuring volunteers are not out of pocket as a result of giving their time, and therefore welcomes the new approved mileage rate announced recently by HMRC.
Volunteers are now able to claim 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles, as opposed to 45p. We will be accepting backdated claims from 1st April 2026. Please note that the rate of 25p per mile over 10,000 miles within the tax year is unchanged.
We’re in the process of updating the claim form on VIP (volunteer information point), which will automatically allocate the correct rate based on the date of when you incurred the expense. The policy and guidance will also be updated to reflect the new claimable amounts.
In the meantime, please continue to use the existing form on VIP and adjust the claim amount to 55p per mile for any mileage from 1st April 2026. If you would like to claim the additional 10p per mile for any claims already made for miles travelled since 1st April 2026, please complete an additional claim form and adjust the mileage rate to 10p.
We understand that some volunteers may prefer to claim a lower mileage amount, and you’re welcome to adjust the rate on the form if you’d like. If you do not want to claim the full amount, you can adjust the rate on the form or claim expenses and donate some or all of them back through Gift Aid.
Please visit ‘video tutorial on claiming your expenses’ under ‘March news’ on VIP for simple videos about why claiming expenses is important and how to go about doing so.
Visit our news archive for stories you may have missed