CONGRATULATIONS!

So pleased that everyone helped to reach the target so we'll be starting to build this FAB-U-LOUS Canine Agility Gym and we'll keep you posted. Also if you would like to go on some Signage saying that you helped us build this Agility Course then please let us know. Also if you would to join in with: * Agility Launch Event * Agility Classes * Agility Fun Sessions * Agility Competition We'll send you more information about how to get involved. Thanks so much again for your support of RECOVERY Assistance Dogs that helps to achieve such awesome outcomes in Mental Health recovery. We look forward to hearing from you soon and please keep in touch. Yours sincerely, Liz. J. Maitland KCAI (AD)RECOVERY Executive Director 07932433148  RECOVERY Assistance Dogs,10, St Andrews Road, Leicester, LE2 8RD  0116 283 3363  Registered Charity Number 1125395  * RECOVERY is a charity for Wellbeing that spreads the word about how people can recover from Mental Health needs with the healing of memories through Creative Therapies.  * RECOVERY Assistance Dogs for Mental Health are trained in three levels to assist Survivors to recover from their symptoms and find wellbeing. * We campaign against compulsion and for freedom of choice.

Can you please help us to do this? It's a well-needed opportunity for local people to improve fitness, wellbeing and use the local green space. People in Leicester let's show that we love dogs and are grateful for the ways that they help us by giving us: * Companionship * Helping us to get out the house no matter the weather * Enabling us to chill without the chatter * Protecting us * Loving us with unconditional love * Always happy to see us * improving our Wellbeing in many little ways In order to build this Doggy Gym, we've got 12 days left to find £6,908. Generous people & Organisations in the Community have already pledged £3,243. We are hoping that Knighton and Aylestone Ward Funding will pledge £500 each as Saffron Ward has already pledged £500. We feel sure that we can find atleast 10 people to donate £50 who would like their dogs to improve their Agility Skills locally, 20 people who agree that dogs should have more 'fun and focus' in their lives will pledge £25, 30 kind people to pledge £15 and 50 dog-loving people to pledge £10 and 100 people who want to be part of the action to pledge £5. Then we've raised another £3,450. HERE ARE THE SUMS £3,243 - We have raised this already. £1,000 - Knighton & Aylestone Ward Funding £500 - 10 pledges of £50 £500 - 20 pledges of £25 £450 - 30 pledges of £15 £500 - 50 pledges 0f £10 £500 - 100 pledges of £5 Total - £3,450 The rest of the money £3,579 can be raised by the NCS Fundraising that has been done over the Summer for this worthwhile project, another pledge from the City Mayor’s Community Engagement Fund and a final pledge from RECOVERY Assistance Dogs. PLEASE PLEDGE AND SHARE THIS POST WITH ALL YOUR CONTACTS.

Charity seeks crowdfunding support for pet project A LEICESTER charity that trains dogs that help their owners’ mental health and wellbeing is seeking the public’s support for a project that will make walkies even more fun in the future. Based off Saffron Lane, the charity - RECOVERY Assistance Dogs (RAD) – hopes that its new crowdfunding appeal will raise more than £10,000 for a canine agility course that dogs and their owners can enjoy together. Featuring hoops, tunnels, jumps and weaves, the outdoor gym would be set up on city council-owned land close to Aylestone Leisure Centre, providing a space where dog owners could meet up for a chat, and where dogs could improve their agility while socialising with other pets. Any dogs and their owners would be able to use the facility – free of charge – but it would also be used by the charity to help train its assistance dogs, which do so much to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their owners. Liz Maitland of RAD said: “Dogs are brilliant at getting their owners out of the house and into a more positive mindset, so we want to give them something that will help improve their own wellbeing too. “This new canine agility course would provide a place where dogs could interact with other dogs or just have fun with their owners – and it would be the only such facility in the county. “I hope that anyone who loves dogs, or who recognises the role that dogs can play in improving our mental health, will be able to support our crowdfunding appeal. Any donation – large or small - will help us reach our target and will be very gratefully received.” The charity is seeking to raise a total £10,278 to fund the project. It’s come up with a range of rewards to encourage people to support their appeal. The first 30 people to pledge £10, for example, will be sent a photo of a Recovery Assistance Dog puppy – while the first three backers to donate £150 will be rewarded with a five day-break in the charity’s seaside caravan. City Mayor Peter Soulsby is hosting the appeal via his crowdfunding initiative, CrowdFund Leicester. For the first time since CrowdFund Leicester was launched in September 2017, the City Mayor could support a project by giving it access to city council land. The 0.2 hectare (2,000m2) site, close to Aylestone Leisure Centre, would continue to be owned and maintained by the council, but it would be made available to the charity for the canine agility course – providing it can raise the funds it needs. “RAD is a local charity that does a huge amount of work to highlight the benefits of dog ownership on people’s mental health and overall wellbeing,” said City Mayor Peter Soulsby. “Their proposal for a pet-friendly facility that both dogs and their owners will enjoy is one that I’m pleased to support ­ - particularly as we have nothing else like this in Leicester. “If RAD’s crowdfunding appeal is successful, and they raise the funds they need, I have pledged to provide them with the land they’ll need for their project. “I wish them the very best of luck with their appeal, and I would encourage local businesses, organisations and individuals to have a look at the charity’s page on the CrowdFund Leicester site and to support the appeal, if they can.” Anyone wishing to contribute to the appeal can make their donation here: www.spacehive.com/dogs-improve-wellbeing People can also make cash donations at the RAD charity shop on 10 St Andrews Road, LE2 8RD. CrowdFund Leicester is hosted by crowdfunding platform Spacehive. Through CrowdFund Leicester, the City Mayor’s community engagement fund is supporting ideas that bring communities together and improve Leicester for everyone. More information is available on the City Mayor’s webpages at leicester.gov.uk Ends Photo caption: Liz Maitland from Recovery Assistance Dogs, with her dog Milli, and Amber Lench – with Chocci – visit the site for the proposed canine agility course off Knighton Lane East. About RECOVERY Assistance Recovery Dogs: RECOVERY Assistance Dogs support people’s mental health and wellbeing. Intensively trained, and registered Assistance Dogs, they help protect their owners from anxiety, loneliness and panic attacks. RECOVERY Assistance Dogs has been a registered charity since 2008. For more information about the charity and its work, please visit its website: www.recoveryassistancedogs.org.uk/ .