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The Editor |
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Managing Director,
Mrs Susan Pattrick |
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Featured Charity | |
Canine Partners is a registered charity that assists people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs, whose well-being is a key consideration. The Charity is working closely with the uniformed services to provide assistance dogs to those injured while on active duty.
More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant's needs and lifestyle, no matter how challenging. They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. The Charity aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities including members of HM Armed Forces, and is working closely with the Forces charity Help for Heroes who have funded several partnerships of injured ex-servicemen and women with canine partners.
Read more opposite and please click here to visit our website.
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Greetings!
Well Christmas is nearly here again... can someone please tell me where the last year has gone! I hope you all have a great time over the festive season and a happy and peaceful new year.
You may recall that the November newsletter was largely dedicated to promoting the International Day for People with Disabilities at Anglia Ruskin University. I am delighted to report it was a tremendous success and it was great to see so many people come along and support the day.
Canine Partners is the featured charity of the month, and although they featured a couple of years ago you'll find more information about them in the article below.
Please don't forget to nominate a charity for a feature article or maybe there is an event coming up which could do with a bit of free PR. If so please email me and I'll do my best...
See you in 2013! |
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International Day for People with Disabilities. | | |
The 1st December saw the culmination of months of hard work by Dancing Giraffe, in association with Chelmsford City Council and Anglia Ruskin University, for the International Day for People with Disabilities (IDPwD) event in Chelmsford.
Starting on Saturday morning, the event was opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford, Steve Packham, Chief Executive of Chelmsford City Council, The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, and Danny Crates, who handed the microphone over to BBC radio presenter and disability advocate, Dave Monk. He then went on to introduce the music of Reg Webb, a blind musician and pianist who helped open the ceremony.
As CEO of Dancing Giraffe, I spent the morning escorting Lord Petre around the campus and introducing him to the various acts that were performing throughout the day, including the Wheelchair Dance team and the Philip Morant Sign Choir. I am delighted with how successful the day unfolded. Everyone who was there said they had a fantastic time and the atmosphere was really buzzing. I personally didn't get to see much more because I was needed at the Dancing Giraffe stand in the foyer of the Lord Ashcroft where I enjoyed the music that took place. Aindre Reece Sherrin was great. His voice is superb.
Along with the performances there were motivational speeches by Anne Wafula Strike, Danny Crates, and Chris Moon, plus there were demonstrations of disabled sport by some of the region's fantastic teams. |
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More about Canine Partners... | | |
 It takes approximately 18 months to train a canine partner from selection at eight weeks old through puppy training and advanced training until they are partnered with a person with disabilities. Each partnership has regular visits from the Charity's aftercare assistants and support and advice are available 24 hours a day. There are 13 puppy training satellites around Great Britain where the pups are looked after by volunteers under the watchful eye of a Canine Partners' trainer, and during which time they learn obedience and some early tasks. They then come into one of the Charity's training centres either at Heyshott, West Sussex or Osgathorpe in Leicestershire for five months to learn the advanced taskwork and to be matched with their future owner.
 These life transforming dogs also provide practical, physiological, psychological and social benefits including increased independence and confidence as well as increased motivation and self-esteem. A canine partner also brings companionship, a sense of security and increases social interaction.
Canine Partners receives no government funding and relies solely on public donations. We have a fundraising office and puppy training satellite in Essex.
If you would like further information about Canine partners in Essex contact Lindsay Hurrell on 0845 209 0750 or
visit www.caninepartners.org.uk or contact head office on 08456 580 480.
Registered charity no: 803680 (England and Wales) and SC039050 (Scotland). |
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Tea Dance Update | | |
Last month we advertised the Sunday Afternoon Tea dance in support of the Colchester Carers Centre Young Carers project. I am delighted to report over £400 was raised for the project plus a further £135 for Cllr Helen Chuah's Malaysian Charities. Thanks to all who came along to support this worthwhile cause. |
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Go grab a coffee... | | |
Well done to Marks & Spencer for being the first major retailer to feature a young boy with Downs Syndrome in their Christmas advert. It started via a Facebook campaign by his mother concerning the noticeable lack of disabled children in any mainstream TV advert. Just proves the power of social media is endless. Here's the video in case you haven't seen it. Watch now. |
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