Guide Dogs | The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Guide Dogs, a leading sight loss charity in the UK

Guide Dogs is a UK charity working to enable people with sight loss to live active, independent and full lives. Its work combines services with and without dogs, aimed at both adults and children and families, with the support of specialist staff and volunteers. The organisation presents itself as the UK's leading charity dedicated to sight loss and as the world's largest assistance dog organisation.

Services and support for all stages of life

The organisation structures its help according to each person's needs. For adults, it offers practical and emotional support aimed at maintaining independence; for children and families, it provides specific services that help build confidence and independence from an early age. It also provides information and advice on sight loss and on the guide dog service.

Guide Dogs describes itself as the largest employer of specialists dedicated to helping children and young people overcome the challenges of sight loss. Its team works alongside users to find ways to live actively, independently and healthily.

Breeding and training of guide dogs

The organisation states it is the only organisation that breeds and trains guide dogs in the UK, and presents itself as a world leader in puppy socialisation and dog training. A guide dog's journey begins at the National Centre and continues with the different stages of training. The organisation maintains animal welfare principles to ensure dogs are healthy and happy throughout their lives.

The puppy sponsorship programme allows people to contribute to the training of new dogs. At the time of consultation, the website featured Nutmeg, Rudy and Bruce as the most recent recruits.

Funding and ways to get involved

Guide Dogs is funded almost entirely through donations. The website details various ways to contribute: single donation, monthly donation, sponsoring a puppy, donations in memory, gifts in Wills and donations through the Lucky Lottery or the organisation's raffle. You can also volunteer, whether as a puppy raiser, a fosterer or in other flexible roles.

The organisation also offers sighted guide training, fundraising activities for groups, schools and companies, and the possibility of inviting a speaker. Other ways to support include rehoming retired guide dogs and participating in the organisation's campaigns.

Charity shop and publications

Guide Dogs has created, together with Teemill, a range of clothing, accessories, homeware and stationery bearing the organisation's brand, produced sustainably. The organisation also publishes Forward magazine, available by subscription, in downloadable format and in audio.

Transparency and governance

The organisation publishes its annual reports and accounts, and provides information about its chief executives and trustees. It has a sustainability strategy and policies on safeguarding, responsible gambling and animal welfare principles. Guide Dogs is a working name of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (291646) and a charity registered in England and Wales (209617), Scotland (SC038979) and Isle of Man (1334).

Location and contact

Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3YG