Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs, a dedicated mental health charity, is making a significant impact by providing trained assistance dogs to young people and families across Southern England. With the rising demand for support, particularly among those with Autism, Down’s Syndrome, physical disabilities, and other emotional or medical challenges, the charity is committed to enhancing lives through the invaluable partnership between individuals and their assistance dogs.
Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs is celebrating the start of its eighth year, marking a remarkable journey of empowering families, schools, and communities through the training of life-changing Assistance Dogs.
Peter Rufus, Trustee and Volunteer CEO, said:
“When we started, we knew there was a real need — but the response and growth have been beyond anything we imagined. Today, we have over 80 dogs either fully trained or in training, working primarily with families navigating Autism and schools supporting students with special educational needs. We’ve also expanded our impact with the Community Dog Project, where specially trained dogs and their volunteer handlers bring comfort and connection to care homes, including those supporting people with dementia.”
While the rapid growth of Helpful Hounds is exciting, it also brings new challenges — and a real need for passionate, self-motivated volunteers. Even just a few hours a week can make a big difference, especially for those with valuable experience and a desire to help the Charity grow and thrive.
Helpful Hounds is currently looking for support in the following areas:
- Qualified Dog Trainers, ideally with experience in working with individuals with special needs.
- Administrative Support, to help manage enquiries, prepare certificates, ID cards, and assist with general operations.
- Training Co-ordinator, to work alongside our trainers, streamline schedules, and ensure training is delivered efficiently and well-documented.
- Community Dog Volunteers – dog owners who would like to be assessed and trained to participate in our Community Dog Partnerships, visiting local care homes and other facilities.
- Marketing, to help raise our profile, engage local businesses and individuals, and promote the impact of our work.
If you’ve got the skills and a few spare hours a week, please contact Peter Rufus on
0796 7147 492 / peter@helpfulhounds.org.uk.
Photo caption: Hiro: One of our Community Dogs
