News

Guide Dogs is committed to providing Sighted Guiding - we have seen how valuable it is and the improvement it brings to people’s lives. Over the next 12 months we will more than double the size of the team which delivers training to the friends and families of people with sight loss, and to companies and the wider community so that as many people as possible are equipped to provide sighted guide help.

My Sighted Guide has been part of the services we have provided alongside our volunteers for several years, and has delivered enormous benefits to some people. We really appreciate the work and dedication which has gone into these partnerships, but as we look to the future, we have found that it is proving increasingly difficult to deliver a fair and consistent service, and to set up and support new partnerships. For over a year My Sighted Guide has not been accepting new applicants to the waiting list. Despite this, we haven’t been able to identify a workable way forward, so over the course of this year, we will be closing this part of the service entirely.

What does this mean for our My sighted Guide volunteers?

We are reaching out to all My Sighted Guide volunteers to let you know about the overall service closure. We will be in touch with you to discuss your individual circumstances and next steps, so for now do please continue as usual in meeting your MSG partner.

We have also reached out to all our My Sighted Guide service users to let them know that we are bringing the service to a close. We will be in touch with every service user individually to discuss alternative support for them and agree timescales for their partnership to come to an end. Please be reassured that we will do this thoroughly and sensitively in order to find the best solution, so there’s no necessity for you to find alternate support for them.

We are working towards closing the service by the end of the year, however your partnership may come to an end before then as we support the transition to other support for our service users. We will be in touch with you to discuss your own partnership and end date. We appreciate that you and your My Sighted Guide partner may make a personal decision to keep in touch after the service has closed.  In future however this would become a private agreement, rather than an arrangement supported by Guide Dogs.

I know that this is news you were not expecting or hoping for. It’s been a really difficult decision to come to, with implications for our My Sighted Guide colleagues as well as volunteers and service users, and we have looked at lots of different options before taking this step. Our aim is to make Sighted Guiding as common-place as first aid knowledge, so that when our service users go out to the shops, the library, on public transport, they can reasonably expect that someone will be there with the skills to help them. In order to do that we need to focus our resources on training groups of people, and raising awareness on the benefits to everyone of being able to provide Sighted Guiding support.

Thank you so much for your dedication, time and commitment to volunteering as a My Sighted Guide volunteer – please do continue to support your service user whilst we work with them to ensure they have the support they need. We will of course continue to cover all agreed expenses until the end of the partnership.

We really appreciate your understanding as we work through these changes, and we will be in touch as soon as possible. In the meantime you can reach the GuideLine on 0800 781 1444, or by emailing information@guidedogs.org.uk.

The most recent Volunteer View survey was sent to you in September 2023, and a whopping 2,973 of you responded. You provided us with feedback and information that helps us to understand what we are doing well and where we can improve.

We are thrilled to hear 84% of you say that you enjoy volunteering at Guide dogs and would recommend us as a place to volunteer. The survey responses have however, also highlighted areas where we can do better, from these we have identified four key areas for improvement.

Read more about these, and see the full Volunteer View survey report summary.

To keep you updated on how we are progressing in these areas, we are very excited to introduce you to the new ‘You said, we did’ section of The Guide. This section will now be a regular addition each month and will focus on a different area of improvement based upon your feedback.

Our volunteer puppy raisers and fosterers have told us loud and clear that it is of utmost importance that they are kept up to date with the progress and onward journey of the dogs they cared for and that this makes a real difference to their experience volunteering with us.

We have been working hard behind the scenes to improve our processes around the communications you receive, and we are about to begin rolling this out.

If you are a current volunteer fosterer or puppy raiser, there is no action for you to take. You will begin to see us communicating more effectively with you moving forwards.

If you have previously cared for one of our dogs and think you have not received the correct communications about a dog you cared for, please contact Guide Line who will be able to provide you with this information.

You will be receiving more information about this soon but in the meantime there are some FAQ’s available. If you have any other questions, please speak to your local volunteer manager or call Guide Line on 0800 781 1444.

Whether you’re attending a local event to celebrate with Guide Dogs or hosting your very own tea party, coffee morning or bake sale, we hope you have a paw-some time! If you still want to join in the fun and host a fundraiser yourself, there’s not long left to get your hands on our free dog nose cake toppers and Labrador-shaped cookie cutter (while stocks last) on our website – so be quick!

If you’re a fundraising group coordinator and need some bits to brew the perfect fundraiser, head over to fundraising resources.

Every cake, cookie and crumb really does make a difference.

Guide Dogs’ flagship magazine, Forward, would love to hear from you if you’ve been fundraising for the charity in recent months. Whether you’re raising money on your own or as part of a group, the Forward team want to feature you in the magazine’s Thank You to our Supporters section. 

If you or your fundraising group would like to appear, please email details of your fundraising feats to forward@guidedogs.org.uk, or send them to Forward magazine, Communications Team, Guide Dogs, Hillfields, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Berkshire, RG7 3YG. 

The deadline for the spring/summer edition is Tuesday, 2 April, and don’t forget to include a photo if you have one – like the Airedale and Wharfedale group (above) have done!

Paws on the Wharf, our free and accessible sculpture trail, will be unleashed this month in London from 25 March to 17 May.

There are 8 weeks to sniff out the trail and discover our 25 larger-than-life decorated guide dogs!

We’re hosting various events around the trail in Canary Wharf where you can come and join even more of the fun, including:

• 28 March – official launch day
• 12 April – join our Family Fun Day
• 24 April – Guide Dogs takeover day to celebrate International Guide Dogs Day
• 16 May – Farewell day – last chance to see our sculptures
• June – The wrap party and auction – your chance to buy one of our unique sculptures

Paws on the Wharf, our free, accessible guide dog art trail in Canary Wharf and Tower Hamlets, is launching on 25 March.

Lots has been happening at Paws on the Wharf HQ – here are some updates…

Our artists have been busy painting their sculptures! We have an amazing and diverse group of artists supporting our trail, including five who have lived experience of sight loss. From established to emerging artists, their talents span a variety of genres. You can read more about the artists on our Paws on the Wharf artists page.

We’re also aiming to make this one of the most accessible outdoor trails to date. Some of the ways the trail will be accessible are:

• Providing guides in alternative formats. 
• Using NaviLens technology to support people with sight loss to experience the trail.
• Offering some bookable sighted guide tours which include multi-sensory elements.
• The trail will be step-free and many sculptures have tactile elements.

Stay tuned to our website for news on other activities that will be happening during the trail. You may even get the chance to come and meet some of our life-changing dogs.

Make sure you save the date – we’d love to see you on the trail!

Fundraising Groups across the UK are making every cuppa count by hosting a tea party, coffee morning or bake sale and inviting service users, volunteers, and supporters to get together to celebrate our life changing work. 

If there is a fundraiser near you, you will receive your invitation to join by email on 22 March! Alternatively, if you’d like to organise your own Make Every Cuppa Count you can register here.

If you’re a Fundraising Group Co-ordinator, please visit VIP to find everything you need to Make Every Cuppa Count this 19 April.
 
If there’s a better excuse to get together, we haven’t heard it!

Some of our biggest and most impactful media coverage, such as BBC Breakfast’s report on puppy raising, local news reports about a busy family opening their home to a guide dog mum, or radio coverage featuring the amazing fundraising achievements of a guide dog owner (play from 1hr 55), features volunteers. Behind the scenes, our comms team provide help and support to get everyone involved ‘media ready’. This could be making sure volunteers have the latest Guide Dogs information, are confident in front of the camera or being interviewed, and overall feel well equipped to represent our charity. 

If you are approached to go on television or appear in other media such as radio or newspapers to discuss your volunteer role, it’s really important to let Guide Dogs know ahead of time by contacting our communications team at press@guidedogs.org.uk or on 0118 354 0580. 

By discussing the appearance with us, we’re often able to offer tips and support, and help with sharing the coverage so it reaches as many people as possible. If you have a dog or a puppy with you we can consider whether it would be beneficial to have specialist Guide Dogs support on hand on the day, we can see whether your media appearance may be able to tie in with any other press coverage we have planned, and that you are supported along the way. 

The media can be an incredible way for the public to learn about Guide Dogs and help us reach new volunteers or people who could benefit from our services. We have been extremely fortunate over the years to have many wonderful volunteers go above and beyond for Guide Dogs by appearing in local or national media – sharing your stories and experiences to spread the word and inspire even more people to join our volunteering community.

We always want more of our volunteers to share their stories and experiences of supporting Guide Dogs and we are often on the lookout for willing volunteers to represent us in the news. The key thing is to always contact our communications team in advance if you would like to share your voice on a subject linked to Guide Dogs. 
 
So please do let us know if any journalists etc contact you to be involved in any media stories or coverage – thank you in advance!

Did you watch our BBC Lifeline Appeal? On Sunday 28 January, Guide Dogs featured in the BBC’s first Lifeline Appeal of the year! Lifeline is a televised appeal that provides an opportunity to raise money and awareness of the breadth of Guide Dogs services which support people with sight loss throughout their lives.

The ten minute film was presented by our wonderful Ambassador, Wendi Peters, and featured three incredible people - Devante, Margaret and Eliza - who shared their inspiring stories. 

Viewers will learn how Devante, Margaret and Eliza are being supported by our vision rehabilitation specialists, life-changing guide dogs, and through our children and young people’s services. 

If you missed it, or want to see it again, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer.

Funds raised from the appeal will help us continue to help people like Devante, Margaret and Eliza. Ever pound raised will be matched by our trusted corporate partner, Petplan, up to a maximum of £20,000. This means by supporting today you can raise even more for Guide Dogs’ life-changing services. A huge thank you to everyone who has already supported the appeal. Your help allows us to continue providing life-changing support for people with sight loss throughout their lifetime.

Find out more about the appeal and the people taking part on our BBC Lifeline Appeal page. 

We are making some changes to volunteering ID cards, in order to make things simpler for you and also more cost effective for Guide Dogs.

As of 2 January 2024, new volunteering ID cards will have no expiry date.

This means that your ID card will be valid throughout your time with us, across all roles, without the need to update it unless you choose to, saving us money and allowing you the flexibility to move between roles without waiting for new ID card. 

Most volunteers will currently have an ID card with a printed expiry date - these cards are still valid so don’t worry, please continue to use them as normal.

When your existing card is due to expire, you’ll receive a new one (without an expiry date) and this will then be your one ID card throughout the rest of your time with us, unless you specifically request a new one.

This means, when no longer volunteering with us, we must ask you return your card to the address listed on it or to your local Guide Dogs contact. This is an important requirement as it ensures that only up-to-date cards for existing volunteers are in circulation at any time, which helps us safeguard the public, our service users, and other volunteers.

This January, Guide Dogs is being featured in a BBC Lifeline appeal to help raise funds for our life-changing work. 

The short film will showcase the breadth of Guide Dogs’ services which support people with sight loss throughout their lives, from childhood to adulthood.

Viewers will meet service users Eliza, Dee and Margaret, as well as some staff members and, of course, our wonderful pups – and learn how Guide Dogs is supporting each of them. The appeal, which will be presented by Martin Clunes, will air on BBC One in January and will be available to re-watch on BBC iPlayer.

Andrew was interviewed on last week’s edition of In Touch, the weekly BBC Radio 4 programme with news, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted.

Presenter Peter White asked Andrew about some of the common issues that listeners contact the show about, including waiting times for a guide dog, the range of services we offer, and our guide dog training methods.

If you missed it, you can listen to the episode now on BBC Sounds.

We’re bringing accessible art trail Paws on the Wharf to Canary Wharf from 25 March to 17 May.

It’s an exciting free art trail showcasing 25 larger-than-life guide dog sculptures individually decorated by talented artists.

Presented by Guide Dogs and Wild in Art, supported by Citi and hosted by Canary Wharf Group and Canal and River Trust, Paws on the Wharf aims to raise awareness and vital funds for our life-changing work.

Save the date and tell your friends and family – we’d love to see you on the trail in celebration of our iconic guide dogs. It’ll be a great day out for all!

For more information, please visit Paws on the Wharf.

On 7 December, a guide dog mum named Puds fulfilled her Christmas destiny by giving birth to a litter at the most festive time of year. The proud four-year-old Golden Retriever welcomed nine healthy puppies.

Each puppy has a distinctive Christmas pudding-colouring, with one even sporting a white tail tip. This is thanks to their father, a handsome black German Shepherd named Shadow.

We are excited to welcome these future life-changers into the world – and very grateful to the volunteer breeding dog holders, puppy raisers, and fosterers who help make it all possible.

You can read more about Puds and her new puppies on the Guide Dogs blog.

The countdown to Christmas is on, but there’s still time to shop for last-minute gifts or take some time to treat yourself. To say thank you for all your support this year, we would like to offer you a 10% discount for the Guide Dogs Shop. Use code VOLUNTEER10 at checkout online or by phone.* 100% of profits go to Guide Dogs.

Thank you again for your support, it is really appreciated.

*Code is valid to 23.59 on Sunday 17 December. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer with the exception of free shipping over £45. Excludes donations, virtual gifts and postage charges.

During our initial look at your feedback in the Volunteer View survey, we noticed lots of comments surrounding volunteer clothing. Rest assured, we’re working on this and the first improvement we’ve been able to make is the way new volunteers order their free Guide Dogs’ branded polo t-shirt when they begin their journey with us.

New volunteers can now order their t-shirts directly via our Guide Dogs t-shirt ordering phoneline by calling 0333 220 5413. Call the number to hear an automated message confirming you’ve reached the right place, before being transferred to our contact team who will take your details. They will also need your unique code, which is located within your ‘Welcome’ email.

Please note this code will change periodically, so check your welcome email, or please call our Volunteering Office on 0345 143 0191 if you’ve misplaced it.

We’ve also heard your feedback surrounding delivery times, so we’re happy to announce our new ordering team have a delivery timescale of three working days, so your polo t-shirt will be with you in a flash.

The polo shirt ordering phoneline is only for new volunteers placing an order to receive their complimentary polo shirt, and not for other items of Guide Dogs branded clothing which for now should be ordered in the usual way

As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to look back at some of the highlights from 2023. It’s certainly been a year to celebrate, and we couldn’t have done it without you – each and every one of our wonderful volunteers.

So, take a few minutes to sit back, relax, and remember all the great things we have achieved together – starting with our very first guide dog litter of 2023…

Did you make it to last week’s Guide Dogs Christmas Wishes concert at Manchester Cathedral? If you missed it, or if you attended and want to relive the experience, you can find photos, videos, and highlights from the event at Christmas Wishes concert.

We have recently reviewed the food rewards (treats) and long-lasting chews that staff and volunteers use with puppies and dogs in training, and our supply chains for sourcing these. We wanted to make sure that everything the dogs eat or chew is as safe as possible for them and cost-effective for Guide Dogs, and that everyone, at every stage, feels confident and empowered to best look after the dogs in their care.

The review was conducted by a group of staff from across Guide Dogs, including representatives from puppy raising, training, behaviour and health. The decisions were reviewed and agreed by experts in their fields and were cross referenced with published scientific articles and up to date veterinary advice to be sure that we are making the very best decisions for our dogs.

The outcomes of the review are as follows:

Food rewards (treats)

As before, food rewards/treats outside of the dog’s daily allowance of food should not make up more than 10% of their daily calorie intake and should only be used if the saliency of the dog’s own diet is not reinforcing enough.

You can select any commercially available treats which are suited to your dog’s age, size, health and individual preferences.

Long lasting chews

We now have an approved list of long lasting chews, listed below. All long lasting chew items do carry an element of risk, so we do advise that dogs are monitored with these. You can choose from the following, based on the dog’s preferences:

• Stuffed food toy (e.g Kong)
• Nylabones/Benebones (other brands which offer a similar type of product are also okay to use)
• Sterilised bones/Shank bones/Smoked shank bones/Calcium bones. These can be stuffed with the dog’s own diet.
• SmartBones SuperChews raw hide alternative - all varieties excluding peanut butter flavour. We have found the large chicken bone has been the most durable.
• Whimzees dog chews: Rice bones have been most durable however various varieties are available.
• MeatyWay hide free chicken rolls 
• Baked fish treats e.g Fishmonger's finest fish braids and bites sensitive dog treats, Fish4dogs sea jerky fish whoppers and twists  
• Yakers (Yak) dog chew
• Wainwrights mint and parsley dental sticks
• Wood chews: All varieties

We have also identified some items that are no longer approved for use. If you have current stock, you can use them up, but please don’t buy any new stock of these:

RAW food

Due to the increased risk of salmonella and campylobacter found in RAW diets as well as the risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Raw Hide 

Studies indicate that raw hide has a low digestibility in dogs, including in the gastric phase. This could indicate a risk factor for gastrointestinal blockages.

Antlers and Buffalo Horns 

Due to the risk of teeth fractures and abnormal shape of antlers/horns. Sterilised bones offer an alternative.

Peanut Butter  

Due to the human health and safety risks, and risk of xylitol for dogs, peanut butter should not be used. 

‘Lick it’ style training aids 

The ball on the end of the food reward system poses a choke and ingestion hazard. 

Freeze dried meat/meat-based products 

Freeze dried meat products are not cooked during the manufacturing process and therefore should be considered RAW. 

Air dried animal anatomy 

Air dried animal products (e.g pig ears, cow ears, trotters) are not cooked during the manufacturing process and therefore pose a bacterial contamination risk. Please be aware that ‘Spratts’ fall within this category, alternative baked fish skin products are widely available to use as an alternative. 

Human food such as carrots can be used as a healthy treat option.

If you find a great alternative that is not noted above, please let your volunteer manager know; they can pass the details on and we can expand the list as we become aware of more suitable alternatives. The more variation we can provide for our dogs the better.

If ever you are not sure if a chew item or food reward is appropriate for your dog, please check in with your volunteer manager who will be able to advise.

Updated 20 December 

Whether you’re new to Guide Dogs or an experienced volunteer, our Volunteering Coordinators are here to support you through any stage of your volunteering journey. For example, if you would like help completing your expenses or would like more information on volunteer social events.

You can reach out to your local Volunteering Coordinator by phone or email – contact details for each region are listed on the Talk to Us page of the Volunteer Information Point.

The Volunteering Office is also available to support you if you would like to know more about our wide range of volunteer roles or have a general volunteering enquiry or feedback. Please contact the Volunteering Office by phoning 0345 143 0191 or via email (volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk).

And if you are looking after a puppy or a dog for Guide Dogs, and have any concern about your dog's health and wellbeing, please call Guide Line for advice on 0800 78 11 444.

The Talk to Us page has all this information in one place and is kept up to date with the contact details for all the Volunteering Coordinators so please do bookmark the page for future reference if you ever need to get in touch.

A reminder that if you use your own vehicle for volunteering activities, you must inform your insurance provider to ensure you are covered by your motor insurance policy whilst undertaking them. Volunteering is usually covered under “social, domestic, and pleasure” policies and the majority of companies do not charge an additional premium if the vehicle is used for volunteering purposes. However, requirements may differ depending on each insurer. For more information, please visit The Association of British Insurers website.

New Guide Dogs CEO, Andrew Lennox and his dog Harley recently met up with volunteers Juliet and Hilary for a dog walk and a chat over a thermos of tea. During their conversation, we find out about Juliet and Hilary’s (multiple) volunteering roles, their inventive approach to fundraising, raising awareness of volunteering locally, and how their local fundraising groups are a great way for all Guide Dogs volunteers to meet up and get to know one another.

The trio were also joined by black Labrador and guide dog puppy Lucy, who kept Andrew’s dog Harley company on the walk and while everyone got to know each other a little better. The outing was an ideal opportunity for Andrew to hear first-hand about the experience of volunteers, listen to their feedback and suggestions on how to improve their time volunteering with us.

Thank you to all the volunteers who came out to join us in a particularly chilly field! Look out for more footage of the meet up coming soon.

Over the next few months, Andrew will be going out and about to meet more Guide Dogs staff, volunteers and service users – for dog walks, meet and greets, and more all over the country so if you see him in your local area, please do say hello.

Listen/watch a summary version of their conversation (5 minutes).

Listen/watch their full conversation (7 minutes 36 seconds).

Congratulations are in order for the winners of our Guide Dogs People Awards 2023!

Our People Awards recognise the stand-out efforts and expertise of volunteers, service users and staff (or staff teams); the unsung heroes who sit among us, quietly (or sometimes loudly) going above and beyond the requirements of their role to get the job done and help people with sight loss live the life they choose.

All the nominees were exceptional and should be incredibly proud – you can read more about the categories and all the finalists on our website and in the programme, and if you missed the livestream, you can watch the event online.

Huge congratulations are in order for all our volunteer winners:

Person-Centred
Marilyn Fisher, Volunteer Voices representative, Speaker, Fundraising group Coordinator, Collection Box Coordinator and Merchandise Coordinator, South East

Marilyn embodies a person-centred approach to all of her volunteer work. She cares deeply for Guide Dogs service users in her local area and will often provide a listening ear on the phone for anyone who needs support. Marilyn is a Volunteer Voices representative and engages with volunteers to hear their views. She has built incredible relationships and friendships across groups and everyone who has contact with her leaves feeling encouraged and built up. She brings a lot of experience and wisdom to her volunteer roles and has made a huge impact her local community.

Expert
Lisa Allison, Puppy Raiser, Speaker and Fundraiser, North West

Lisa is described as being ‘relentlessly optimistic’ in seeking to help others. She goes beyond her role as a puppy raiser to support potential, new and existing volunteers. She set up a WhatsApp group for puppies in her current litter, which has provided support, advice and camaraderie for all its members. She is a trained speaker and regularly visits local groups to promote Guide Dogs. Most recently, she offered her support to the national puppy raiser recruitment campaign, including appearances on television and radio which helped encourage many more vital applications.

Optimistic
Yvonne Smith, Puppy Raiser and Puppy Fosterer, Midlands

Yvonne began puppy raising after being diagnosed with a terminal medical condition. She decided to quit work and volunteer for Guide Dogs to provide focus to Yvonne was medically retired from work and she decided to volunteer for Guide dogs to provide focus. That was three years ago and now her specialists are delighted that her condition has stabilised, which could be a result of the exercise she receives running after puppies! Yvonne is also a speaker for Guide Dogs and is happy to share her volunteering story. She’s dropped everything to take part in last-minute media opportunities to promote volunteering for Guide Dogs as part of The Big Help Out. Her story touched everyone and she’s a brilliant example of how volunteering can change your life.

Partner
Sevenoaks Fundraising Group, South East

The whole team at the Sevenoaks fundraising group is nominated for the outstanding contributions they have each made to help the branch become one of the most successful in the South East. The team is very proactive in reaching out to the community to offer support at events and they always maximise every opportunity. If there is ever a national fundraising initiative the group will organise an event together. If an individual has an idea, they will all get behind it. They are a passionate and innovative team who make every opportunity a first-class event.

Lead by Example
Catherine Pitney, Fundraising Group Coordinator, Collection Box Coordinator, Merchandise Coordinator and Fundraiser, South West

As Fundraising Group Coordinator for the Havant and Hayling Island group, Cathy has limited volunteer support in the area to lean on. But she has somehow managed to develop and manage several successful relationships and events with local Supermarkets including Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Co-op, as well as attending fetes and school events. She is amazing at selling trading merchandise and has a real impact on ensuring Guide Dogs has a presence in her local community. Cathy also supports volunteers in other areas, and does this on top of being a busy mum to three children and working full-time.

Engage
Lynda Browett, My Sighted Guide, South West

Lynda became a sighted guide in 2019 and is in two partnerships with clients who she helps in completely different ways. Since beginning her role she has shown a huge passion for helping others. She works brilliantly within her partnerships and always finds new ways to support their needs. During the pandemic Lynda took on extra responsibilities as a volunteer keeping in touch caller, and helped make regular calls to people who were waiting to be matched in new partnerships, offering a friendly ear during a difficult time.

Community My Sighted Guiding Award
Bryan White, South East

Bryan is described by his My Sighted Guide partner, Keith, as a ‘shining beacon of hope’ and having an unwavering commitment to providing exceptional guidance and support. By guiding Keith through various activities including long walks, social activities, gym sessions and bustling city streets, Bryan has not only made a positive impact but has also been an inspiration. His approach to volunteering goes beyond navigation - through their regular gym sessions Bryan is also empowering Keith to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle, promoting not only physical wellbeing but also boosting his confidence and quality of life.

Chairman’s Innovation Award
Terry Quinn, Speaker and Fundraiser, North East

Terry was nominated for the Chairman’s Innovation Award by his partner, Dean, who says: “When Terry lost his sight, I felt he also lost himself. He went from being a fun-loving, confident and exuberant person, to a frightened, sad, lonely, isolated and introverted shell of his former self. His spark had gone, his flame had been snuffed. He was always known for his smile that would light up a room, but the smile was no longer there. “Since being matched with his incredible guide dog, Spencer, Terry’s life has quite quickly come back, even become enhanced. He is confident once again, and continues to push the boundaries of his capabilities. Terry has thrown himself into a completely new vocation, learned new skills and developed ways around his limitations. “He bought himself an industrial CO2 Laser, learnt new creative technologies and now has his own Etsy Store, where he makes and sells lots of different original crafts. He spends hours and hours every day, and often into the night designing and making. He has received so many positive and wonderful comments about his work, and received lots of orders for it. He donates up to 30% of every sale to Guide Dogs and has raised enough to name two puppies so far.”

Long Service Award 60 years
Marjorie Culham

This year marks an incredible milestone for Majorie Culham – an impressive 60 years volunteering for Guide Dogs. Marjorie’s involvement with Guide Dogs started when she was a Girl Guide leader in the 1960s collecting foil bottle caps, and later supporting her local fundraising group. When the Redbridge Training School opened 1986 she jumped at the opportunity to puppy raise, which she continues to do to this day and has now raised 31 puppies! Over 20 years ago, Marjorie set up the Stour Valley fundraising group, which she still runs with the support of her husband, David. Majorie is a passionate advocate for the rights of people with sight loss and helps educate her local community about the importance of our work. At the beginning of this year, Marjorie was recognised in the New Years Honours List for her voluntary and charitable services to people with a vision impairment.

The Princess Alexandra Award for Lifetime Achievement
Janet and Clive Evans

Janet and Clive have been volunteering for Guide Dogs since 1981, and they have given a loving home to more than 100 of our dogs. Their unwavering dedication and passion for the work of Guide Dogs is an inspiration to not only volunteers but staff as well. They will take on any of our dogs, no matter the issue, and help work through the challenges they present. The couple won’t ever give up, even when many others may do. Janet and Clive recently supported one of our Academy Guide Dog Trainers with a dog who had separation anxiety that meant they couldn’t go into kennels around training hours. Another staff member recommended Janet and Clive and as soon as the trainer got in touch, they were put at ease. Since the dog has moved to them, he has come on immeasurably with his settling and can now be left for over an hour when he couldn’t be left for a minute before. They take on challenges, listen to our advice and then implement it. Their positive outlook is inspiring.

We’ve updated our One Voice booklet, a handy one-stop shop for information about Guide Dogs, which all volunteers can now download and keep.

One Voice is immensely useful for helping you to explain what we do clearly and concisely when you are talking to people about our work – with up-to-date stats, facts and information, you will always be ready to answer common questions.

You may remember that you received an edition of One Voice back in January. We felt it was important to give you the very latest facts and figures at that point in time because of the effects of the pandemic meant things had changed so rapidly. Now things are returning to normal, we are syncing One Voice with our Annual Report every autumn – this simplifies things and means that the numbers in both will match up.

Please recycle any printed copies of the old One Voice booklet, and delete the digital version from your files. The new, fully accessible PDF version of One Voice is always available for everyone in the ‘Resources’ section of the Volunteer Information Point.

View the Newshound magazine

Did you know that our volunteers support Guide Dogs in all sorts of ways – and you might be surprised at some of the roles volunteers take on.

One such example is Caroline who volunteers at the National Centre. She is a Visitor Experience Ambassador and Puppy Socialiser, but may be known to local volunteers in her role as editor of Newshound, a newsletter for volunteers supporting the Guide Dogs National Centre that Caroline puts together.

Featuring news from around the centre, updates from staff, and heartwarming volunteer stories, each newsletter is a fascinating insight into the National Centre and Guide Dogs as a whole.

You can read this summer’s edition of Newshound here – huge thanks to Caroline and all who contributed to the magazine for all your hard work!

If you are curious about some of the other volunteering roles available at Guide Dogs, there is more information available on our website or you can contact the Volunteering Office on volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk or 0345 143 0191.

The Volunteer Handbook provides essential information about your volunteering journey with Guide Dogs, and includes everything from common sight loss conditions to volunteer awards and events, plus the basics such as who we are and how we work.

The handbook is reviewed annually to make sure it is up to date and accurate, but this latest edition has also had a makeover so it should be easier to navigate and more recognisably ‘Guide Dogs’.

All volunteers receive the handbook with your welcome email, so if you have an old copy please download the latest version from VIP

At Guide Dogs, we want to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing. Everyone at Guide Dogs, including staff and volunteers, have a responsibility to be aware and report any behaviour they feel is inappropriate or oversteps boundaries.

As a Guide Dogs volunteer, you need to know what to do if someone tells you something or you have any concerns about a person in vulnerable circumstances; this could be a service user, a volunteer, a staff member, a supporter or a member of the public.

Remember:

Recognise: Never promise to keep a secret. If you are told something or have a gut feeling that something isn’t right remember you have a duty to report your concerns, even if the person has not given you permission to do so.

Report: Speak to a manager or the Safeguarding team on 0345 143 0199 immediately. Do not delay in seeking advice.

In the rare event that a person is in immediate danger, or the situation is very serious, call 999.

Record: Make a factual record as soon as possible, what did you see and what was said by whom? Pass this information onto your manager and the Safeguarding team. Information is recorded in a confidential database for future reference.

Respond: Where appropriate thank the person for telling you and explain that you need to speak to someone who can help you with the concern. Contact your line manager and Safeguarding who will advise on any actions needed.

More information can be found in the Safeguarding leaflet and on the Volunteer Information Point.

The Safeguarding team are here to support anyone affected by a safeguarding concern and treat all concerns seriously and sensitively. If you need advice or support, or at risk of harm yourself, please contact the Safeguarding team on 0345 143 0199.

One of the ways we celebrate the achievements of Guide Dogs volunteers and staff is through our Pat on the Back scheme. If someone has gone above and beyond to contribute towards our purpose and has demonstrated our behaviours in action, we encourage people to nominate them for a Pat on the Back.

Staff or volunteers awarded a Pat on the Back will receive a pin badge and a letter with their nomination message, so they will know just how much of an impact their actions have made. All volunteers awarded a Pat on the Back are also automatically entered as nominations for our annual Local Volunteer Awards.

The Pat on the Back scheme has been around for a while, but we have made some changes to the nomination process; there’s now a new form to use when nominating a volunteer for a Pat on the Back which you’ll find in the ‘Saying thank you' section of the Volunteer Information Point. If you’d like to nominate a staff member for a Pat on the Back, simply get in touch with your local Volunteer Coordinator.

So, if there’s a staff member or fellow volunteer you’d like to recognise, why not nominate them for a Pat on the Back today?

If you’ve visited our volunteering at Guide Dogs website recently, you might have noticed they have had a bit of a revamp.

We have created ‘hubs’ on the website to help new and existing volunteers more easily engage with their interest in different types of roles, plus added some FAQs and extra content.

Hopefully this makes it easier for people to find information most suited to them, so whether you are considering switching roles, looking to share some information with friends and family who are interested in volunteering, or just curious about what your fellow volunteers are up to for Guide Dogs, do take a look at the new pages.