Supporting children and young people across primary, secondary and tertiary education to help them to relieve and build the skills they need for adulthood through providing therapy dogs in a variety of roles as requested by the setting. This helps to improve mental health and emotional well-being and can support education attainment. Supporting older people in the community through working directly with individuals and via visits in care homes and assisted living settings. These help to reduce social isolation, build friendships, and provide comforting reminders of home for those who have enjoyed dog ownership. These visits also improve the health and wellbeing of older people and help to manage some health issues. Supporting people with disabilities and life-limiting illnesses in a variety of settings, these visits provide fun activities and opportunities for interactions which can be opportunities to develop social skills, build confidence and to strengthen bonds with the local community and improve quality of life. Therapy dogs may also provide relief and support to those facing difficult health challenges. Supporting the community through visits to e.g. airports – providing support to nervous travellers and providing calm, comfort and distraction and simulation to service users and hard worked staff.

The company’s stakeholders are the clients and establishments we visit across Essex. These include: At least 100 care homes, nursing homes and residential living accommodation 9 Hospitals including 22 wards at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford 45 Private homes 90 Schools (which include pre-schools, primary, junior, high schools, academies and colleges, including special needs and alternative provision schools. 4 Universities (Southend, Essex, Writtle and Anglia Ruskin) 9 Mental Health Units and Hubs – including Motivated Minds, SECE Mind, CiCC Unit at Rochford Hospital, Jaxon Health, Linden Centre, Crystal Centre, Edward House, Mencap and The Priory Libraires, We also have 10 dogs visit Southend Airport to help anxious and nervous passengers, Hospices, the Chelmsford Justice Centre, Learning Disability Centres, Beavers, Brain Injury Units, Essex Fire Service (Firebreak), Garden Centres, Rest homes, sheltered housing social spaces, strokes units and a youth club. We have various ways in which to engage with our members and stakeholders which include: An AGM was held in December 2023 Chairs Report, Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet, Secretary’s Report, and Event Coordinator Reports were presented to attendees and sent to all members following the meeting. One-way non-disclosure agreements are now signed by anyone who has access to personal data after it was flagged that we could be in breach of GDPR Consultation with Age Concern regarding home visits and we have now in place a home visit request pack, which includes a Boundaries Contract which is sent to anyone requesting a home visit. We have also updated our safeguarding policy and home risk assessment. We have an extreme weather policy in place after a consultation with our members that they were unhappy to visit in very hot and very cold weather conditions. Reactive Dog Agreement is now in place after members flagged concerns about reactive dogs attending dog walks and events. New Bull Dog Legislation – we consulted with our insurance company who confirmed they would not insure bully type dogs so we no longer accept this breed of dog into our company. We send to all our members a one year and two-year membership anniversary badges as a thank you for giving up their time and commitment each week. We also send a small gift during Volunteers Week in June. We attend PRM meetings at Southend Airport where we are given feedback on the impact our dogs are having on nervous and anxious passengers. We regularly post on Facebook and Instagram which also provides a feedback channel for all our stakesholders to contact us.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration