Donation helps new guide dog owners get started

Guide Dogs has received £4,920 to fund starter kits for new guide dog owners across Devon. 

The donation was provided by the Santander Foundation which offers grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities.

Guide Dogs exists to enhance the quality of life of people living with blindness or impaired vision. The grant will provide new guide dog owners with specialised products and aids based on their personal vision and mobility needs such as harnesses and hi-visibility vests, as well as other rehabilitation services.

Alun Gwernan-Jones, Manager for Guide Dogs South West Region, said:  “We are extremely grateful to Santander Foundation. Guide Dogs receives no government funding and is entirely dependent on the generosity of our supporters to fund the breeding and training of our dogs and support them and their owners during their working lives.”

Charles Macrae, Branch Director at Santander’s Exeter branch said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations every year to good causes throughout the UK. Our branch is committed to playing a key part in the community and we are delighted to be supporting Guide Dogs, and hope the donation makes a real difference to local blind people.”