Guide Dogs Scotland

How would you describe volunteering for Guide Dogs in five words? 🦮

Emma Brown, from our volunteering team, will be answering quickfire questions about our volunteer opportunities at an event on Thursday evening.

If you’d like to join our community of volunteers or would like to learn more about how you can support our life-changing services, why not come along?

'ALL IN' to Volunteering Recruitment, run by Engage Renfrewshire, takes place on Thursday 20 August from 6pm to 7pm.

The venue is Station Seven, 7 Quarry Street, Johnstone PA5 8DY.

Please follow the link below to register.

🔗 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-in-to-volunteering-recruitment-event-tickets-1994151980254

[Photo shows a volunteer puppy raiser looking down smiling at a dark yellow guide dog puppy, who is sat on the grass.]

Guide dog puppies take their training to new heights ✈️

A group of our puppies have taken a trip to the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian as part of their training. 🦮

The puppy paw-ssengers Bill, Elba, Jenny, Kell, Kez, Marty, Vinny and Wray did a first-class job, confidently exploring large hangars, narrow walkways and busy crowds.

Gillian Salmon, Puppy Development Advisor at Guide Dogs, said: "The National Museum of Flight is a fantastic venue, offering a rich learning experiences for our puppies, including access onto the Concorde.

"The aircraft steps were a great opportunity for our pups to practise boarding and disembarking.

"On the day, there was a lot of noise, hustle and bustle, with large tour groups arriving, which was great exposure for our dogs.

"We’re very grateful for the opportunity to hold a puppy class at this wonderful facility and we would like to thank the team for their hospitality."

The group of guide dog puppies were accompanied by their volunteer puppy raisers. If you are interested in the role or would like to learn more, please visit the link below.

🔗 www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser

Photos (c) Andy Catlin

[Four photos with individual descriptions.]

Happy Forfar Friday! 🦮💛

Here are some snaps from the last few weeks showing our guide dogs in training at works, rest and play.

Could you foster one of these cuties? We'll need you to drop your dog off at our Forfar centre on weekdays between 7am and 9am and collect them between 5 and 6pm.

All food and vet costs are covered so this could be the ideal role for someone who loves dogs but can't commit to having one full-time! For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/mtabeekh

[There are 19 photos of our trainee guide dogs, with individual descriptions.]

From pup to partnership 💙

This is Munro, who earlier this year became a life-changing guide dog for someone living with sight loss. 🦮

Munro was volunteer puppy raiser Morna's first pup and she couldn't be prouder of all that he has achieved.

She said: "We feel incredibly lucky to be puppy raisers for Guide Dogs. Knowing that we’ve played a small part in raising a puppy, who has gone on to change someone’s life is a real privilege.

"Helping someone with sight loss regain confidence, independence and freedom makes every muddy walk and early morning worthwhile.

"We know we’re just one chapter in their story, but it’s a chapter we’re incredibly proud to be part of. If you’ve every thought about becoming a puppy raiser, we’d wholeheartedly encourage you to find out more.

"It's one of the most rewarding things we’ve ever done!”

To learn more and apply to become a volunteer puppy raiser with Guide Dogs, please visit the link below.

🔗 www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser

[Photo 1 shows Munro, black labrador x golden retriever, as a puppy, sitting on the grass on lead. Photo 2 shows Munro more recently, in his qualification photo, proudly sat wearing his harness and looking towards camera.]

Volunteers needed for St Andrews charity golf day! ⛳

*Please note all tee times are sold out for this event. There are no more spaces for additional players.*

The 15th annual charity golf day in aid of Guide Dogs is set to tee off on 22 August at Drumoig Resort, organised by dedicated volunteers Danny Rooney and Gillian Maclaren.

Puppy raiser Danny says: “We really need people to help out at the event. If anyone can spare a couple of hours to join our friendly team and help us raise as much as possible for a great cause, we’d love to hear from them."

People can also support the cause by purchasing raffle tickets, with prizes including return flights to New York with Virgin Atlantic, £500 cash and a luxury break at the Old Course Hotel. Danny is also looking for people who can help sell raffle tickets.

To buy raffle tickets, sell raffle tickets or volunteer at the event, please contact Danny by emailing dannyrooney259@ hotmail.com or calling 07969243225.

[Photo shows a golf buggy decorated with Guide Dogs bunting.]

🏍️ Five guide dog puppies, alongside their volunteer puppy raisers, recently took part in a successful training session with our friends at the Forfar Motorcycle Club.

The puppies were introduced to the bikers and motorcycles while the bikes were stationary, before gradually experiencing the different engine noises.

The bikers then rode around our Forfar Regional Centre car park, helping the puppies become familiar with the sound and movement of motorcycles.

Puppy Development Advisor Jude Taylor said: "It was a great success, with the puppies being given the opportunity to get used to motorcycles in a safe and controlled environment. Experiences like this are an important part of helping puppies build confidence."

Socialisation is a key part of puppy raising, with volunteers regularly introducing the pups to a variety of environments, people and sounds ,to help prepare them for life as guide dogs.

A huge thank you to Forfar Motorcycle Club for supporting the session and helping to provide such a positive experience for our puppies. 🐾

Learn more about puppy raising and how to volunteer at the link below.

🔗 www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser

[Photo 1 shows a group of guide dog puppies and their puppy raisers, with the bikers from the Forfar Motorcycle Club. Photo 2 shows puppy raiser Fiona with guide dog puppy Weston, yellow, as the pup enjoys a pet from a biker sat on a motorcycle.]

National Lottery winners from across Scotland have shown their support to Guide Dogs by restoring a number of our life-size collection dogs. 🤞🎨

The winners joined our West Fife Fundraising Group to restore the iconic dogs, which had fallen into disrepair and could no longer be used as vital collection points.

The winners will now work with Guide Dogs to ensure every collection dog has a special new home – and essential funding through kind donations can continue.

The event was held at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, which was temporarily transformed into a workshop for the refurb and painting of the dogs.

Libby Elliot, from Cupar, who won £2.2M on Lotto, has been supporting Guide Dogs West Fife since her win.

She said: “This is just such an incredible charity which is doing incredible things for thousands of people across the region.

“Each guide dog statue collects an average of £4,000 a year. Of the 16 we have painted today, this is a staggering £64,000 - £1.28M over the lifetime of the statues.

“I am delighted we have rallied fellow winners today to support such a good cause, giving the dogs a much-needed overhaul and some TLC and, once they are all back in place, we hope they will help to drive even more funding to support the wonderful work of Guide Dogs.”

Additionally, two special Scotland-themed collection dogs were painted by a local artist and now have permanent homes in Fife.

One is placed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum and the other at Fayre Earth gift shop in Falkland. These eye-catching collection dogs are limited edition and can only be found in these locations. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Karen and Peter Donnachie, group co-ordinators at Guide Dogs West Fife, said: “We are so grateful to all of the winners for the time they have given.

“Our dogs are looking fabulous. They are an essential lifeline for the charity and we now hope even more money can be raised with these very appealing dogs appearing across the region – every donation counts, no matter how small.”

Guide Dogs Scotland would like to express our thanks to the National Lottery, the kind-hearted group of winners, the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum and the City of Dunfermline Royal Legion Pipe Band.

And, of course, to our West Fife Fundraising Group and all the supporters who played their part in making this such a fantastic day! 🦮💙

[Photo shows a large group of people with paintbrushes stood behind tables. On the tables are our iconic life-size collection dogs. At the front of the photo there are three dogs - one black, one golden and one pup being held by a Guide Dogs volunteer.]

What does a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist do? 🦮

At the heart of every guide dog journey are our Guide Dog Mobility Specialists (GDMS), whose role extends far beyond matching a dog with its future owner.

They work closely with people to understand their lifestyle, mobility needs and aspirations, creating partnerships that give individuals with sight loss the confidence and freedom to live independently.

No two days are ever the same. A GDMS might be supporting a new partnership to travel confidently on buses and trains, assessing routes to ensure they are safe and accessible, or overcoming environmental challenges such as overgrown pathways and obstacles.

Their expertise, adaptability and commitment help ensure both the person and dog can navigate the world together with confidence. 💛

Rob Bousie, who is an Academy GDMS based at our Forfar Regional Centre, said: “Before joining Guide Dogs, I worked in Romania for a small charity raising and training the first guide dogs in the country, which was exciting but also brought its own challenges!

“The opportunity to come and learn to be a GDMS in the Academy has given me the chance to develop my dog training skills and given me an extensive toolkit to deal with whatever situation I might come across visiting a service user and their dog.

“I just love being able to support so many people to regain their independence and mobility; us Guide Dog Mobility Specialists are the final link in the chain and get to see the end product but I’m thankful for a great team getting the best out of these wonderful dogs.”

Guide Dog Mobility Specialists also provide personalised training, supporting each new partnership as they develop the trust, communication and teamwork needed to work successfully together.

In Forfar, our GDMS team has created 22 qualified working partnerships so far this year. This has only been possible through the collective efforts of many people.

Volunteer puppy raisers help young dogs build the foundations for their future role, while fosterers provide essential support and care throughout a dog's development.

Together with staff, volunteers and supporters, they all contribute to the success of every partnership. 👏

If you'd like to learn more about the role volunteers play in helping Guide Dogs change lives, please visit the link below.

🔗 www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer

[Photo shows Academy GDMS Rob smiling as he puts his arm around trainee guide dog Ida, yellow, outside our Forfar Regional Centre.]

Do you have a child with a vision impairment aged 0-4?

Join our upcoming My Time to Play sessions in Edinburgh, where we offer structured, fun, and supportive My Time to Play sessions, each based around sensory stories and related activities.

As a parent, you’ll be able to meet people in a similar situation and share experiences. You’ll also pick up skills and knowledge that will help you support your child’s early years development with confidence.

Our My Time to Play groups are set to take place in central Edinburgh (a 10-15 minute walk from Waverley), with sessions every two weeks, beginning 9 Sept.

✉️ To register your interest, please contact our Guide Line on 0800 781 1444
🖇️ For more information, please visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/MTTP

[Photo shows a child enjoying a My Time to Play session. One of our Habilitation Specialists rustles some shredded paper for the child as part of the sensory play.]

We had the pleasure of delivering Sighted Guide Training to Western Ferries, who are committed to making their journeys as accessible and welcoming as possible. ⛴️

Learn how you could benefit from Sighted Guide Training at the link below.

🔗 www.guidedogs.org.uk/sightedguiding