Guide dogs charity group urges firms to help make life easier for people with sight loss
A guide dogs charity group at Swadlincote is urging local businesses to help make a difference for people living with sight loss.
Guide Dogs’ Swadlincote and District Fundraising Group, new members of Burton and District Chamber of Commerce, say there are multiple ways for businesses and their employees to get involved with the charity.
The local fundraising group and its volunteers can work with Chamber members to arrange a number of initiatives including:
- Guide Dogs’ Name a Puppy scheme, which gives businesses the opportunity to name a guide dog puppy and follow their journey through training, while helping fund Guide Dogs’ life-changing services
- Fundraising events and challenges such as Paws for a Cuppa events, giving employees and customers the chance to get together and meet the charity’s dogs
- Visits from local speakers who can talk about their experience of sight loss
- Connecting to Guide Dogs’ Sighted Guide training offering, helping employees learn how to confidently guide someone with sight loss.
The Guide Dogs charity said: “There are also opportunities where you can offer up your skills and join Guide Dogs as a volunteer – whether that’s joining the local Fundraising group, or the rewarding role of caring for a guide dog puppy for the first year of their life as a volunteer Puppy Raiser.”
Clodagh Howcroft, fundraising group coordinator for the Swadlincote and District group, said: “We’re delighted to join Burton and District Chamber of Commerce and connect with more businesses in the local community.
“There are so many enjoyable and rewarding ways for businesses to support Guide Dogs, whether that’s fundraising as a team, choosing us as Charity of the Year or simply helping employees develop their understanding of sight loss. We’d love to hear from any Chamber members interested in finding out more.”
Guide Dogs relies on donations and volunteers to continue its life-changing work, supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently and well.
Businesses interested in getting involved can contact Volunteer Group Coordinator Clodagh Howcroft on 07852 531492 or email clo.howcroft@outlook.com.
