Publication Date: 29-07-2024 09:00
Bellway supports Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs charity
A Bournemouth-based charity which provides assistance dogs for young people with special needs has received a financial boost from housebuilder Bellway.
The company, which is building new homes at Kingsmere Park in Ferndown, has donated £450 towards the running costs of Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs.
The registered charity has 60 dogs which are specially trained according to the specific needs of the individual, family or school they will be helping. The animals help and support their human partner with daily tasks and therapies.
The dogs are trained to assist young people on the autism spectrum and those with Down’s syndrome to reduce anxiety and stress by helping them gain confidence, develop independence, and to improve their quality of life.
The charity, which covers the south of England and parts of London, will use the money to help pay for training costs, vet’s fees and food for the dogs.
Trainers from Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs visited Kingsmere Park to collect their donation and to allow Bellway staff to meet three of the charity’s dogs – Jessie, a black Labrador and Cherry Junior, a golden Labrador, both of which are in training, and Hugo, a Border Collie which is a Community Therapy Dog.
Vicky Mansfield, a senior trainer at Helpful Hounds, said: “We are so grateful to receive this donation and support from Bellway who are building new homes close to our head office in Bournemouth.
“Our assistance dogs are trained to support special needs students as well as families dealing with autism, Down’s syndrome, physical disabilities and a range of mental health conditions. Helpful Hounds uses donations such as this one from Bellway to help us expand the number of families and schools we can support.”
Emily Putnam, Sales Manager at Bellway Wessex, said: “We are building homes in Bournemouth where Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs is based and across parts of southern England which are covered by this wonderful charity.
“It was a pleasure to chat with Vicky and Carla from the charity to find out more about the work they do and it was a real thrill to meet Hugo, Jessie and Cherry, who are three of their truly amazing dogs.
“These incredible animals are trained to assist people with serious issues and to help give them the ability to connect more effectively with others socially, educationally or, in the case of some adults, in a working environment. It is a pleasure to give the charity a contribution to help support its invaluable work.”
For more information about Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs, visit www.helpfulhounds.org.
For further details about the new homes Bellway Wessex is building at Kingsmere Park, call 01202 618686 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/wessex/kingsmere-park.
