The Health Lottery Foundation Funds Support Dogs' Disability Assistance Programme

Strategic Insights -

The Health Lottery Foundation has awarded a grant to Support Dogs, a charity providing support dogs to individuals with long-term, physically disabling conditions. This funding will enable an instructor to deliver the charity's Disability Assistance Programme, supporting up to 10 families across the UK each year. The programme helps adults with conditions such as MS, Cerebral Palsy, and spinal cord injuries by training support dogs to perform practical and personal care tasks. This funding will also contribute to the cost of a dedicated vehicle to help reach families nationwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Health Lottery Foundation has awarded a grant to Support Dogs to fund an instructor delivering the charity's Disability Assistance Programme, supporting up to 10 families across the UK each year.
  • The programme helps adults living with long-term, physically disabling conditions such as MS, Cerebral Palsy, and spinal cord injuries by training support dogs to perform practical and personal care tasks.
  • The instructor funded by the grant will assess and train new partnerships between dogs and clients, offering six months of follow-up support to help those partnerships thrive.
  • With many training sessions taking place in clients' homes, the grant will also contribute to the cost of a dedicated vehicle to help reach families nationwide.
  • Support Dogs provides all services free of charge, with 100% of service users reporting reduced care needs and improved independence.
  • Two-thirds of service users are now working or in education, and 80% say family members have been able to take on paid work instead of full-time caring responsibilities.
  • The Health Lottery Foundation's CEO, Martin Ellice, said that the funding will help make a significant impact on the lives of families, giving them the chance to return to work or education.
  • Support Dogs' CEO, Rita Howson, added that the funding will enable the charity to continue growing its reach and provide more support to families in need.

Statistics:

  • 100% of service users report reduced care needs and improved independence.
  • 2/3 of service users are now working or in education.
  • 80% of service users say family members have been able to take on paid work instead of full-time caring responsibilities.
  • The grant will support an instructor to deliver the Disability Assistance Programme, helping up to 10 families across the UK each year.

Sources:

  • The Health Lottery Foundation: The Health Lottery Foundation has awarded a grant to Support Dogs to fund an instructor delivering the Disability Assistance Programme.
  • Support Dogs: Rita Howson, CEO of Support Dogs, said that the funding will enable the charity to continue growing its reach and provide more support to families in need.
  • The Health Lottery Foundation's website: The grant will also contribute to the cost of a dedicated vehicle to help reach families nationwide.