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Brainy Dogs
Brainy Dogs is a project run by Headway Suffolk that takes rescue dogs who are then trained by volunteers from different sectors: teenagers and adults affected by mental ill-health, veterans, children unable to attend mainstream education, prisoners and probation; to become companion dogs to people with a brain injury or neurological condition.
Brainy Dogs is a National Lottery funded project run by Headway Suffolk, that takes rescue dogs who are then trained by volunteers from different sectors: teenagers and adults affected by mental ill-health, veterans, children unable to attend mainstream education, prisoners and probation; to become companion dogs to people with a brain injury or neurological condition.
Trainers gain work experience and learn life skills by training rescue dogs to provide life-changing support as companion dogs.
Through the project, not only have these volunteers been given vocational training, but more than 70 dogs have been given a new start in life, providing much-needed companionship to people who, due to brain injury or neurological condition, may have experienced a personality change which has impacted their relationship with friends and family.
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In addition, there are rehab dogs that provide rehabilitation activities to meet individual needs. The project’s ambition is to improve people’s quality of life and provide a sustainable, growing and flexible service.
They were awarded £350,000 in 2018 to run the project, which enabled them to increase the number of people who train the dogs and give 1-1 visits with their rehab dogs.
I feel Brainy Dogs has been such a success because of its originality, diversity and flexibility. If there is a way the dogs can help someone, we try our hardest to make it happen. The dogs calm clients in a way humans cannot. They do not judge and for many people, this is a rare feeling. We have been told that the dogs are a lifeline and that they have stopped a couple of clients from ending their lives. They get people out into social networks, give them a sense of normality and something in common with others.
Brainy Dogs Coordinator Sophie Wellum-Mayes
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