Our History
“Why don’t you start a charity of your own?” – A throwaway remark that led to something incredible!!!
Our History
A Remark That Sparked a Movement – “Why don’t you start a charity of your own?”
A simple, offhand comment from a fellow volunteer, Jane, during a meeting changed everything. At the time, many of us were feeling frustrated with how we were being treated by another national charity. Jane’s suggestion stayed with me, even though I initially laughed it off.
Planting the Seed: Support from My Husband
When I shared the idea with my husband, Tony, I was surprised by his encouragement. Though we had no idea how to start a charity, Tony reminded me that there would be people who did—and we could ask them.
The First Call: Finding the Right People
My first step was calling Eileen Slattery—someone I knew could get things done. As expected, she pointed us toward someone experienced in setting up charities, and suddenly the path didn’t seem quite so daunting.
Building the Dream Team
We knew we’d need others with different strengths to make this happen. We reached out to:
– Mary Oliver MBE for her educational background, charity work, and credibility
– Anne Jones for her exceptional administrative skills and attention to detail
The First Official Meeting
On 28th January 2016, we held our first meeting. It was clear we needed someone charismatic to lead the charity. That person could only be Eileen Slattery—affectionately known as “Slats”—a natural speaker and motivator.
Registering the Charity
We began the mountain of paperwork required by the Charity Commission. Tony and I tackled it together, and with Mary’s final review, we submitted everything on February 2nd.
A Sudden Loss and a Powerful Legacy
Just a week later, my beloved husband Tony passed away. While I stepped back to grieve, the rest of the team moved forward, bringing Therapy Dogs Nationwide to life. In Tony’s memory, over £7,000 in donations have been raised—his spirit continues to support the charity.
Turning Vision into Reality
– Anne expertly established our admin systems
– Mary travelled the UK giving talks and creating the Paws & Read scheme
– Eileen Slattery handled recruitment, uniforms, badges, and much more
The Heart of Our Charity
What makes me most proud isn’t just what we’ve achieved, but the friendship, communication, and community we’ve built among our volunteers and trustees.
A Final Word of Thanks
Thank you, Jane, for your words:
“Why don’t you start a charity of your own?”
We did.
And look at us now!
Our Achievements (So Far!)
– Over 1,500 volunteers registered
– Recognition and referrals from The Kennel Club
– Pioneering work with children and libraries
– Presence in more hospitals than ever before
– Expanding into prisons and closed establishments
– Developed assessor training courses
– Built charity partnerships and collaborations
…and the list keeps growing!