Lucy Purchese: has worked at DFG for 5 years as a Community Dog Practitioner based in the Bracknell area. Lucy works alongside her two Community dogs, Ned and Lexi.

Hayley Ring: recently joined dogs for good as the engagement officer on this project . Hayley has experience in client support for AAI sessions , and a background working in social care services.

“in time they can shape their services to meet identified needs to support potential outcomes and benefits“

Selina Gibsone: Development Manager at Dogs for Good for 11 years, overseeing the project and supporting the development of AAI (present for Q and A’s).

Dogs for Good is a charity who offers a range of services supporting people with a variety of health and social needs through specially trained dogs. They are now in the process of bringing these to the Bracknell area with a new project being rolled out specifically for the Bracknell Community.

It is designed to be a flexible service offering the opportunity for adults and children with a range of individual needs in the Bracknell community to spend time with a specially trained dog and their handler. As a starting point, they aim to build knowledge of the needs of this community, so in time they can shape their services to meet identified needs to support potential outcomes and benefits.

There are so many ways they can help, from enabling people to keep active/exercise, motivated and connected with their families and communities, build relationships, and encourage social interaction, communication and confidence. They are supporting people with learning disabilities, dementia, autism, mental health challenges as well as physical disabilities, to feel more confident to go out and about, helping bring people together and enjoy being part of a community.

One of their first groups to be established is an activity group for adults with learning disabilities. It is this group that they will be talking about in detail including who attends, the aim of sessions, the activities, benefits/ outcomes, any personal goals, feedback and support, and how it has developed to date.