Olivia Blake MP gets exclusive tour around Support Dogs’ new centre of excellence
Sheffield MP Olivia Blake took time out of her busy schedule to give her support to the development of a brand-new national facility in Hillsborough that will provide vital life-changing care and support to individuals and families living with long-term medical conditions.
The Labour politician, who represents Sheffield Hallam, was given a tour of the Sheffield-based, national charity, Support Dogs’ new national centre of excellence.
Support Dogs provides life-changing care for autistic children and adults living with epilepsy or a physical disability, via the power of specialist assistance dogs.
The new centre, Elsworth House on Herries Road South in Hillsborough, is undergoing refurbishment and a £5m fundraising drive is underway to transform the former vacant office and warehouse into a ground-breaking beacon of excellence in the training of assistance dogs.
Ms Blake met with the charity’s chief executive, Rita Howson, who told her all about Support Dogs’ plans to expand and support even more people with challenging medical conditions, as well as the wider community through its educational and outreach sessions.
The charity, founded in Sheffield in 1992, has for the past 20 years been based in small offices on Brightside Lane. The limitations of that small unit had restricted its plans for growth. As more than 29,000 people accessed Support Dogs’ online application pages last year, the move was made to help meet the unacceptable demand for its services.
The new, custom-built HQ will have space to help more people and develop community services and education services via a Community Heartspace, while also ensuring that the charity’s dogs have the training, and welfare spaces they need to thrive.
Ms Blake said: “I was in awe to hear about the internationally pioneering life-changing and life-saving work of this incredible charity. The staff and dogs are nothing short of miracle workers, helping to transform the lives of children and adults both in Sheffield and beyond.
“These dogs are highly-trained medical aids who not only ensure that the people who rely on them can live safely and more independently, but also aid so many to return to work or education.”
Support Dogs saves the NHS around £35m in health and social costs annually, with this estimated to rise to £100m once the new centre is up and running.
It currently employs 49 people and creation of the project will create 55 more roles.
Ms Blake added: “This facility is fantastic for Sheffield, South Yorkshire and our local area. The new facility represents a massive investment locally. And its benefits in improving lives gets my full support.”
Ms Howson said: “We are pleased to have Ms Blake on board with our campaign to turn Elsworth House into a purpose-built, pioneering centre of excellence which will better meet the needs of our clients, dogs, staff and volunteers.
“We are excited to take our support and services to the next level, with the new centre representing our commitment to help even more people affected by autism, epilepsy and physical disability. We receive an average of 4,000 requests per year for help and the new facility will help us to address the shortfall in meeting that demand.”
To find out more about the charity’s work and its development plans, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk/national-centre or email [email protected]