Guide Dogs Cymru

It's a busy start to October for our Swansea fundraising group! They've been meeting shoppers at the Quadrant Centre for the past two days, and will be there again tomorrow (Saturday October 3) from 10am-3pm. Why not pop down, say hello to our dogs and start some early Christmas shopping from our well-stocked stall?

The group would also like to thank the Waterfront Church in Swansea, which has donated £430 to Guide Dogs from a coffee afternoon get-together. If you'd like to get involved with your local Guide Dogs group, you can find out more by visiting this link: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/be-part-of-a-fundraising-group/

pic 1: Volunteer Dave Richards with guide dog puppy Zag, a yellow labrador cross retriever, at the Quadrant in Swansea
pic 2: A young visitor chats to Chris and guide dog Gerald, a golden retriever
pic 3: A shopper stops to pat retired labradoodle guide dog Munch, a retired labradoodle guide dog

Dyma ni yng nghynhadledd Plaid Cymru yn Llandudno, yn cwrdd ag Aelodau Seneddol ac Aelodau Senedd Cymru wrth i ni rannu neges Guide Dogs. Heddiw, roedd gyda ni Nia Hicks-Brew a’i chi tywys Una, Andrew ac Andrea Gordon (oedd yn gweithio gyda Guide Dogs Cymru am flynyddoedd) a Cath Lewis, rheolwr polisi ac ymgyrchoedd.

Mae Liz Saville-Roberts AS yn arwain Plaid Cymru yn San Steffan ac mae hi wedi ymddiddori yng ngwaith Guide Dogs Cymru ers blynyddoedd. Rydyn ni mor falch o’i chefnogaeth barhaol. Hefyd, roedd hi’n braf cwrdd â Donna Cushing, aelod newydd o Senedd Cymru sy’n cynrychioli Sir Fynwy Torfaen. Mae hi’n aelod o Bwyllgor y Blynyddoedd Cynnar, Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg, felly edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda hi i wella gwasanaethau i blant â cholled golwg yng Nghymru.

llun 1: Liz Saville-Roberts, Andrea Gordon a'i chi tywys Mai , a Nia Hicks-Brew gyda'i chi tywys Una
llun 2: Nia Hicks-Brew a'i chi tywys Una, Donna Cushing AS, ac Andrea Gordon a'i chi tywys Mai

We're at the Plaid Cymru conference in Llandudno, meeting MPs and Senedd members as we spread the Guide Dogs message. Our team today included Nia Hicks-Brew and her guide dog Una, long-standing colleagues Andrew and Andrea Gordon with guide dog Mai, and policy and campaigns manager Cath Lews.

Plaid Cymru leader in Westminster, Liz Saville-Roberts MP, has always shown a real interest in the work of Guide Dogs Cymru, and we are delighted that we retain her support. It was also good to meet a newcomer to Guide Dogs in the form of Donna Cushing, MS for Sir Fynwy Torfaen. She is a member of the Senedd's Early Years, Children and Young People and Education Committee, and we look forward to her support as we strive to end the postcode lottery of habilitation services for children with sight loss in Wales.

pic 1: (l-r) Nia Hicks-Brew with guide dog Una, Donna Cushing MS, Andrea Gordon with guide dog Mai
pic 2: (l-r) Liz Saville-Roberts MP, Andrea Gordon with guide dog Mai, and Nia Hicks-Brew with guide dog Una

Introducing another trainee! Nell is a golden retriever and joined us from puppy raising in Gwent. She has settled in well with her fosterers in Cardiff, and enjoys regular free runs in the woods. She has won our hearts with her good looks and happy demeanour.

Young dogs like Nell live with a foster family for the duration of their training. The dogs goes to work during the week, leaving you free to get on with your busy day. Evenings and weekends are times to spend together! If you'd love the company of a well-mannered dog like Nell, with none of the usual costs of pet ownership, fostering could be the ideal role for you. Find out more by visiting this link: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/volunteer-with-our-dogs/fosterer/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=RegionalComms_Q2_2026

You can also find out more by registering for our special live webinar from 7pm-8pm on Wednesday October 21 - here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/824516310724522/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

pic: Golden retriever Nell lying on lawn with rosemary and lavender bushes behind her

Guide dog brothers Ringo and Harvey turn three today! Harvey is in Cardiff and Ringo works in the Caerphilly area. We hope they both get a treat from their owners!

pic shows yellow labrador cross retrievers Ringo and Harvey lying together on grass with a pile of bones between their paws

Happy birthday to training dog Rebel, a yellow labrador cross retriever who's two today! Rebel is learning to be a life-changer in Cardiff with the help of trainer Charlie. Rebel is pictured with a happy expression, wearing a Guide Dogs bandana.

We're celebrating 40 years of guide dog training in Wales by unveiling another brand new partnership! Trish, of Cardiff, has just qualified with black labrador cross retriever Kizzy, who was raised as a puppy in the South-East of England. Kizzy moved to Cardiff for early training with Lucy, before she and Trish went on class with GDMS Dan. Congratulations to all involved in Wales's latest success story!

pic: Trish standing outdoors with black labrador cross retriever Kizzy sitting at her side

Happy 40th birthday to all of us at Guide Dogs Cymru! The first Guide Dogs training centre in Wales opened at Trevillian House, Cathedral Road, Cardiff on 29th September 1986. Television cameras were on hand to capture the excitement, and reporters interviewed several Welsh guide dog owners, who were delighted they no longer had to travel outside Wales to train.

Since that day, our services in Wales have gone from strength to strength. We have qualified around 1,000 Welsh guide dog partnerships and have six times the original number of dogs in training. Our vision rehabilitation specialists deliver services in all parts of Wales, and our habilitation specialists help young people with sight loss develop vital life skills. We also have 11 wonderful buddy dogs bringing joy and companionship to families in Wales.

What is your stand-out memory of the past 40 years? Comment below!

pic: dignitaries and guide dog owners at the official opening of Trevillian House, Guide Dogs' first training centre in Wales, on 29th September 1986

Happy Tongue Out Tuesday! Bobby, a golden retriever, took time out from class and found a muddy puddle to dunk his head into. He's pictured sitting with his tongue out and muddy marks on his forehead. What a character!