It started with... people like you

It started with... people like you Alex and his Assistance Dog Oriel, Co. Wexford Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 1

Ed and his Guide Dog Izzy on Cape Clear Island It started with... changing one life 2 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

CHANGING LIVES ONE DOG AT A TIME Here at Irish Guide Dogs, we've come a long way since our humble beginnings in a small farmhouse in Co. Cork in 1976. We achieved our first Guide Dog partnership in 1980 and have not looked back since. For over 40 years, we have provided life-changing services and support to people across Ireland who are blind or vision impaired. In 2005, we were the first organisation in Europe to provide Assistance Dogs for families of children with autism. Throughout that time we have consistently focused on innovation, to ensure that we maximise the number of people who can benefit from our services. Since starting our journey in 1976, we have greatly advanced our knowledge and understanding of dog training. We have invested in state of the art training facilities and developed programmes that deliver the best dog, at the right time, with the most suitable temperament to match our clients needs. All our programmes are offered free of charge, with intensive support and aftercare available to all our clients. Our corporate partners make a crucial contribution to our work creating long-term partnerships that deliver clear benefits to our partners as well as raise significant funds for us. Read on to find out how you can work with us to make a difference. People are at the heart of everything we do. OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE We strive to improve the mobility and independence of our clients by understanding their unique requirements and lifestyle needs, and provide them with a fully trained Guide Dog or Assistance Dog that will complement and enhance their lives. OUR LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES INCLUDE: Guide Dog Programme for the blind or vision impaired Assistance Dog Programme for families of children with autism Independent Living Skills Training Child Mobility Programme Next Step Programme to equip young people with the skills to manage the transition to life in college Orientation and Mobility Programme All our services are free......that s because of people like you Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 3

1 in 100 number of people in Ireland who are on the autism spectrum 51,718 people in Ireland who are blind or visually impaired 5 Times is the amount of times Aviva Stadium would be filled with people impacted by an autism diagnosis The facts... 12 18 months 5% average waiting time to get one of our dogs of people who are vision impaired have total vision loss Over 1/3 of older people registered blind are unable to get out in their local community independently 4 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

38,000 Clair with her Guide dog Asha, CO. CORK is the cost of transforming a puppy into a hero 85% of the funds we need are raised through fundraising 87,749 hours to make a hero 4.9M per annum required to provide our services 1/2 hr after opening our Assistance Dog Programme to new applicants we had reached full capacity Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 5

The 'A' litter enjoying breakfast It started with... one incredible dog All our litters are organised alphabetically. The puppies in each litter are then given a name that starts with the litter s letter. As a corporate sponsor you will be given the opportunity to name our adorable puppies. 6 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

Each dog receives two years training to turn them from a cute puppy into a working Guide or Assistance Dog BIRTH - 6 WKS Early Socialisation Each puppy is introduced to various environmental stimuli in a controlled and secure way to allow the puppy to develop coping skills and encourage the pups confidence to grow. 6-8 WKS Puppies are put into volunteers homes in pairs for 1 week. Early socialisation is continued and overcoming obstacles like stairs, sleeping away from mum and siblings and car travel are all Home Socialisation developed further. 8 WKS - 14 MTHS Puppy Training 14-18 MTHS Each puppy is reviewed to check their reaction to various environmental stimuli. This develops a temperament profile allowing the trainers and volunteers develop the puppy in a way that s appropriate to it's temperament. Early Training The puppies are fully grown they are brought to our HQ & Training Centre. Trainers work with the dogs where they learn clicker training encouraging them to think for themselves; taught how to cross roads and stop at kerbs and avoid obstacles. They are being assessed to see whether they will make better Guide or Assistance dogs. 18-22 MTHS Advanced Training 22-24 MTHS Our Instructors perfect the dog s skills. They will look at how the dog behaves, its personality, whether it walks fast or slow, prefers the country or city etc. They then match the dog with a person. Getting the match right is crucial to ensure the best possible partnership. Graduation! Our dog is now ready to graduate. Before they begin to work, our client and their new dog attends a residential training course at Irish Guide Dogs HQ & Training Centre. 24 MTHS ONWARDS Perfect Match The client returns home with their Guide or Assistance Dog to lead better lives with greater independence and mobility. Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 7

It started with... one dedicated trainer Guide Dog Instructor Cliodhna with Jodie at a corporate partner site visit 8 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

ONE OF OUR GUIDE DOG INSTRUCTORS, CLIODHNA TALKS ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO MATCHING THE RIGHT DOG WITH THE RIGHT PERSON When a one-year apprenticeship came up for the Early Training Unit, Cliodhna Ní Laoghaire applied for it. After working as a trainer for a year, she did an apprenticeship as an instructor in the Advanced Training Unit. Cliodhna qualified as a Guide Dog Instructor in 2014. We have an incredible world class team at Irish Guide Dogs and would love your help to do much more... As instructors we work in cycles. We spend 12 weeks training the dogs in advanced skills and matching them with clients, which is a very complex process because dogs, like people, are very different from each other. We breed all our own dogs and they stay with our volunteer families for the first 14 months of their lives once they have been vaccinated and microchipped. They then go into the Early Training Unit where they are trained to a certain level before moving on to the Advanced Unit where their skills are developed and consolidated. We have to decide whether a dog would be more suitable as a Guide Dog for vision impaired people, or an Assistance Dog for children with autism. A Guide Dog needs to be very obedient and willing to please but must also be confident and have the ability to make decisions and deal with pressure. It s not generally the next person on the waiting list who gets the next dog. There are so many details to be taken into account, from the client s age, occupation, location, daily routine, handling ability and even their voice, to the dog s size, walking speed, ability and temperament. We test the dog s skills in a variety of settings from busy city centres and office blocks to quiet country lanes and rural towns. Once we have matched the dog to the client, we will tailor their training so that they are tested in the type of environment they will be working in. After the dogs complete their advanced training, the clients come to stay at our residential centre, where we train them to work with the dogs. They go home with their new Guide Dogs, and we go to the client s home for two weeks of post-class training. There are often teething issues settling in. We return six weeks later to check that all is going well, then six months later and then yearly. Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 9

Volunteer Mossy with puppy Jazz, Co. Limerick It started with... a beautiful friendship 10 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

These moving stories illustrate how our amazing dogs have become a lifeline for our clients When I lost my sight as a teenager through an allergic reaction, I thought my sport and fitness days were over. But having my Guide Dog Uri has increased my confidence and willingness to become more active. Cara and Uri now take long beach walks and go paddle boarding with friends. With the help of Uri, she has found the confidence to meet new challenges she never thought possible and is a keen tandem cyclist, where her blindness isn t a factor with her cycle mates. Cara will undertake a tandem cycling challenge this year for Irish Guide Dogs, giving back to help others gain their independence. Cara and Uri "Yabba has completely changed the meaning of family life for us. It s a huge privilege to have him. Siobhan's son Ewan was diagnosed with autism aged 4. The family almost missed out on the life transforming opportunity to secure an Assistance Dog, such is the demand from families with autistic children. We were waiting two-and- a-half years, coming close to the age cut off point. Luckily we got the call, we couldn t believe it! Assistance Dogs like Yabba contribute hugely to the lives of children like Ewan, helping development, confidence and communication. After just one year Ewan and Yabba were inseparable, Yabba s calming nature bringing Ewan out of his shell. Yabba has enabled the entire family to enjoy life in a whole new way. Campbell family and Yabba I did not have a life before getting a Guide Dog, life now is incredible. Laurence was the victim of a horrific attack which left him with vision impairment along with many other life altering injuries, spending 10 years in rehabilitation. In 2005, Scamp became part of Laurence s life and he is now an avid fundraiser for Irish Guide Dogs and an ambassador for people with disabilities. I can never thank Irish Guide Dogs enough for what they ve done for me. I walked out of Cork with a whole new life. There s absolutely nothing Irish Guide Dogs don t do for a person with a disability. It s not even just about getting a dog - they help you to believe in yourself and show you that you can actually do more than you realise. Laurence and Scamp Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 11

It grew with... 12 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... the help of others Honey brightens the day of her sponsors on a visit to their offices

WORKING TOGETHER All that we offer at Irish Guide Dogs is free of charge. Our community of supporters facilitate what we do and what we provide. We passionately believe that everyone in need of a Guide or Assistance Dog has the right to access our services and it is our supporters and partners who make this possible. Of the 4.9 million required each year to run Irish Guide Dogs and facilitate the needs of each client, our partners and supporters work with us to raise more than 85% of that funding. They change lives all over Ireland every day with their commitment and generosity. It takes 38,000 to cover the working life of just one of our Guide Dogs, bringing them from playful puppy through two years of professional training, on to client and family integration and a long, purposeful happy life. Corporate partnerships in particular are vital to our success and the wonderful contribution of others enables Irish Guide Dogs to deliver our services free of charge to those who really need them. THERE ARE MANY GREAT REASONS TO PARTNER WITH US Increase staff loyalty and motivation Reinforce your commitment to corporate social responsibility Engage with your audience at a national level Enhance your corporate reputation Increase consumer and stakeholder trust and confidence Raise your profile among a new audience Build customer loyalty and goodwill Helping connect with your local community OUR DOGS CHANGE LIVES Corporate sponsorship allows us to expand our reach, to bring people and dogs together, to positively influence the lives of individuals, their families, friends and communities. A partnership with Irish Guide Dogs is a commitment to making a tangible difference. Giving the gift of independence and mobility inspires all that are part of it. Make a tangible difference to people's lives today Call us now on 021 487 8431 email us at partnerships@guidedogs.ie Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 13

Hollie thanks the Bon Secours Hospital, cork for sponsoring an entire Litter of Puppies It grew with... the support of partners 14 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS Our organisation is built around identifying each client s needs, unleashing a dog s potential and working with both client and dog to build a long-term partnership that is mutually beneficial, positive and rewarding. When we connect with corporate partners, we take a similar approach, investing time in finding a shared vision, so that together we can devise and deliver a high impact collaboration. Irish Guide Dogs is an iconic Irish charity brand and we have the ability to generate significant local and national awareness through innovative fundraising programmes, dynamic media campaigns and grassroots outreach. Irish Guide Dogs will combine our expertise with yours to nurture a partnership that will grow and bloom, reaping rewards on both sides and most importantly, changing the lives of our clients. Whether you re a small company wanting to support a specific project, or a large company looking for a strategic relationship, we can tailor an innovative corporate partnership to match your needs and provide a good fit with your core values. HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED Partner with us through a corporate puppy sponsorship Select Irish Guide Dogs as your charity of the year Donate to our work Get active! Enter a team in a challenge event Engage your staff as part of your wellness activities and have us visit with our dogs Donate your expertise, facilities and products Involve your teams in our volunteering opportunities Enjoy a corporate talk with one of our Guide or Assistance Dog owners Whether your company has worked with a charity before or not, we ll make it easy for you to get involved. Get in touch to see how we can work together Call us now on 021 487 8431 email us at partnerships@guidedogs.ie Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 15

Mike Challenging himself in aid of Irish Guide Dogs, Co. Galway It grew because of... people like you 16 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

Some of our valued partners share their experiences working with Irish Guide Dogs I bring my 12 year old cocker spaniel Ben with me practically everywhere I go. Dogs have always been so important to me in my life. They are such wonderful creatures and they bring joy to so many people. I wanted to help share this feeling with other people who need it and be a part of bringing a dog into their life. Volunteering with Irish Guide Dogs has inspired us as a company to do more. Avril Casey, Trend Micro "We have always supported the Heroes campaign, it s always a very popular event with our staff. It s a privilege to have a Guide Dog Owner speak to us about how valuable their dog is to them. Our staff love meeting the Guide Dogs, they're always a welcome distraction from the day job!" Jennifer Kelly, Mazars Ireland We worked close with Irish Guide Dogs on a large onsite fundraiser. On the day we held a range of engaging and fun events from a quiz, virtual cruft s to a merchandise sale. There was great excitement and anticipation of their arrival with all our staff. The volunteers, guest speakers and staff were informative and insightful! We got an appreciation for the difference a Guide Dog and an Assistance Dog can make in a family s life! Sarah Beagan and Anna McCarthy, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 17

VEGAS IS CHOSEN FOR SPONSORSHIP BY DELL Vegas celebrating his first birthday party with the dell crew It works because of... people like you Ciara who was matched with Vegas, thanking Dell for changing her life 18 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

MEET CIARA AND VEGAS, THE Dell SPONSORED PUPPY WHO CHANGED A LIFE Ciara from Ballina in Co. Mayo is vision impaired for as long as she can remember. Having completed her training at our National Headquarters in Cork her Guide Dog Vegas is now a central part of her life. "Thank you all for coming to visit us at our work, the team really enjoyed the session, we ve had fantastic feedback. It was great to see first-hand the impact that these dogs can and do have on people s lives and I m glad Ciara enjoyed the experience also." Eleanor from Dell Cliodhna Ni Laoghaire, Instructor, from Irish Guide Dogs made a number of visits to Ballina to support Ciara in her own home and get started on familiarising Ciara and Vegas on their routes in Ballina. As a result, Ciara now enjoys more independence, walking to and from work every day and going for walks and joining with work mates on lunch break. Before Vegas, Ciara felt limited to lunch at her desk. I am so lucky to have Vegas, I am the only person with a Guide Dog in Ballina, he was sponsored by Dell. These dogs are only 15% funded by the government and the other 85% comes from volunteers and fund-raising. It costs 38,000 to train one dog, so it is no wonder I feel so lucky to have one! You know the best thing that ever happened to me was getting Vegas. Demand for our dogs means clients face long waiting periods to be matched with a suitable Guide or Assistance Dog. Call us today to find out more about our puppy sponsorship packages... There are people waiting for a dog now! Please call us today on 021 487 8431 or email us on partnerships@guidedogs.ie Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With... 19

Two experienced working dogs Nala and Otto got to catch up during a visit to one of our corporate partners. Nala s work day is quite a different experience, as he guides his owner Grainne, who is vision impaired, safely across the city. Assistance Dog, Otto, shares a tip about how he helps 8-yearold Tommy, who has autism, go to the library. It continues because of... people like you Help us continue to empower people like Tommy and Grainne and make a real impact on their lives. Contact the corporate team: 021 487 8431 partnerships@guidedogs.ie www.guidedogs.ie 20 Irish Guide Dogs - It Started With...

SPONSORSHIP VALUE: 5,000 Covering the first year s training costs of the puppy PROGRAMME 1 FINDING THEIR FEET A partnership with Irish Guide Dogs is a commitment to make a tangible difference. By sponsoring our puppies, you enable us to expand our reach, to bring people and dogs together, to positively influence the lives of individuals, their families, friends and communities. KEY BENEFITS:» Through a gift of sponsorship you can give freedom, independence and mobility to a vision impaired person or to a family of a child with autism» You get to name your puppy» We ll send you regular Pupdates and photos, so you can follow your puppy s journey to becoming a lifechanging companion to a vision impaired person or to a family of a child with autism» You will have the opportunity to meet your puppy at Irish Guide Dogs Headquarters and Training Centre, Model Farm Road, Cork» One on-site Puppy In Training visit to your location Give the gift of freedom, independence and mobility. Call the corporate team today to find out more on 021 487 8431 or email partnerships@guidedogs.ie

We know that together we can change lives. Working in partnership with your organisation, Irish Guide Dogs will ensure that your needs are met and you gain maximum benefit from this great opportunity. Your company can make the ultimate investment in Irish Guide Dogs by choosing to sponsor the training of a puppy and a tailored partnership programme. Allowing for the perfect staff engagement and CSR initiative, a puppy sponsorship through any of the following stages will allow you to make a real, tangible difference and help change a life forever. PROGRAMME 2 Our Guide, Assistance and Companion dogs go on to offer PUPPY independence, POWER mobility and confidence, changing the life A partnership of a blind or with vision Irish impaired Guide Dogs is a person commitment or a family to make of a child a tangible difference. with autism. By sponsoring our puppies, you enable us to expand our reach, to bring people and dogs together, Programme 1 - Finding their to positively influence the lives of Feet individuals, their families, friends and communities. Key facts about the programme: Sponsorship value: 5,000 which covers the first year s training costs of the puppy You will be asked to give your puppy a name. You will receive a picture of your puppy and quar- KEY BENEFITS:» Through a gift of sponsorship you can give freedom, independence and mobility to a vision impaired person or to a family of a child with autism» You get to name your puppy SPONSORSHIP VALUE: 10,000 Covering the training of the dog for its first two years» We ll send you regular Pupdates and photos, so you can follow your puppy s journey to becoming a life-changing companion to a vision impaired person or to a family of a child with autism» You will have the opportunity to meet your puppy at Irish Guide Dogs Headquarters and Training Centre, Model Farm Road, Cork» One on-site Puppy In Training visit to your location» You will receive an update after training is completed and the programme under which the dog will be place. Guide, Assistance or Companion programmes» Highlighted on Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Corporate web page as a sponsor for Puppy Power programme Give the gift of freedom, independence and mobility. Call the corporate team today to find out more on 021 487 8431 or email partnerships@guidedogs.ie

We know that together we can change lives. Working in partnership with your organisation, Irish Guide Dogs will ensure that your needs are met and you gain maximum benefit from this great opportunity. Your company can make the ultimate investment in Irish Guide Dogs by choosing to sponsor the training of a puppy and a tailored partnership programme. Allowing for the perfect staff engagement and CSR initiative, a puppy sponsorship through any of the following stages will allow you to make a real, tangible difference and help change a life forever. Our Guide, Assistance and Companion dogs go on to offer independence, mobility and KEY confidence, BENEFITS: changing the life» Through of a blind a gift or of vision sponsorship impaired you can give freedom, person independence or a family of a and child mobility to a vision impaired with autism. person or to a family of a child with autism Programme 1 - Finding their Feet» A visit from our client sharing their story on how our amazing dogs has become a lifeline for them Key facts about the programme:» You get to name your puppy Sponsorship value:» We ll 5,000 send which you regular covers Pupdates the first and photos, so you year s can follow training your costs puppy s of the journey puppy to becoming a life-changing companion to a vision impaired person or You to a family will be of asked a child to with autism give your puppy a name.» You will have You the will opportunity receive a picture Irish of Guide your Dogs puppy Headquarters and quar- and Training to meet your puppy at Centre, Model Farm Road, Cork PROGRAMME 3 TAKE THE LEAD SPONSORSHIP VALUE: 38,000 Covering the entire working life of the dog A partnership with Irish Guide Dogs is a commitment to make a tangible difference. By sponsoring our puppies, you enable us to expand our reach, to bring people and dogs together, to positively influence the lives of individuals, their families, friends and communities.» One on-site Puppy In Training visit to your location» Through a gift of sponsorship you can give freedom, independence and mobility to a vision impaired person or to a family of a child with autism» We will share updates and partnership details on our newsletters, website and across our social media platforms» You will receive an update after training is completed and the programme under which the dog will be place. Guide, Assistance or Companion Dog Programmes» Highlighted on Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Corporate web page as a sponsor for Take the Lead programme Give the gift of freedom, independence and mobility. Call the corporate team today to find out more on 021 487 8431 or email partnerships@guidedogs.ie