Support Dogs, the national charity based in Sheffield, works with people across England, Scotland and Wales and has been training highly skilled assistance dogs for more than 33 years. Their work transforms lives by helping people live more independently, safely and confidently.
Specialist training in three key areas
Support Dogs train dogs to assist in three specialist areas:
- Epilepsy seizure alert – dogs provide a 100% reliable warning ahead of a seizure, giving people time to prepare and stay safe.
- Autism assistance – dogs help autistic children stay calm, feel more independent and better able to manage the demands of everyday life.
- Disability assistance – dogs act as around-the-clock carers for people with conditions like MS, cerebral palsy or spinal injuries, helping with daily tasks and personal care.
Rita Howson, CEO of Support Dogs, said:
“Our services are provided free of charge and a support dog relationship lasts on average 8 years. 1 in 4 of the dogs we train come to us from rescue centres or as unwanted pets. It’s our job to find dogs that have the personality and intelligence to be excellent support dogs.”
£15K from Health Lottery players to boost disability assistance
The Health Lottery Foundation has awarded £15,000 that will go towards the salary of a new instructor delivering the charity’s Disability Assistance Programme - supporting up to ten families across the UK each year. This programme trains dogs to carry out essential tasks that improve their owner’s daily life, from fetching items to opening doors or helping with dressing. It’s a highly specialised form of training that takes time, expertise and commitment. DAP helps adults living with long-term, physically disabling conditions such as MS, Cerebral Palsy, Fibromyalgia, and spinal cord injuries. Support Dogs are trained to carry out practical and personal care tasks, providing 24/7 support and significantly improving safety, independence, and quality of life for clients and their families.
Martin Ellice, CEO of The Health Lottery, said: “This is exactly the kind of work The Health Lottery Foundation is here to support. These support dogs do more than just help people physically — they offer dignity, independence and peace of mind. The impact ripples out across entire families, giving loved ones the chance to return to work or education. We’re proud to help make that possible.”
Delva Patman, CEO of The Health Lottery Foundation, added: “Support Dogs’ work is practical, effective and has real impact. We’re pleased to help them continue delivering this support to families who need it.”
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.
Players of The Health Lottery have now raised over £134 million for good causes across Great Britain.
