"Guide Dogs is a brilliant charity and the team here are a valued part of our community, so we are really pleased to have supported their fundraising event. "
Katherine Westcar
Workers from Winnersh Triangle in Reading were treated to a lunchtime cuddle with Guide Dog puppies earlier this week, in a bid to combat stress and boost work-life balance whilst raising funds for Guide Dogs UK’s Reading Mobility Team.
A team of 12 Guide Dogs and their handlers took time out from their busy schedules on Wednesday 3 July to raise awareness of the charity’s work that enables blind and partially sighted people to get out and about on their own terms. On the day, workers on the park were able to meet three puppies, seven working guide dogs and two dogs in training.
Clive Wood, Engagement Office, at Guide Dogs said: “Our charity is the world’s largest trainer of working dogs and over the years has helped more than 29,000 people to achieve life-changing independence. Our ambition is a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live their lives to the full.
“We have a team of 34 staff based at Winnersh Triangle who, together with volunteers, work to deliver Guide Dogs’ services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Surrey. The Reading Mobility Team has been based at Winnersh for five years now and, in that time, 228 Guide Dog partnerships have been created. Our ‘meet the puppies’ event has become a popular fixture among the business community here.”
The event raised more than £800 for the charity by workers who gave donations in return for a cuddle with the dogs including Winnie, Florrie and Vernon. Coincidentally, on the day of the event, new research from Washington State University provided new, objective evidence that soothing sessions with dogs can lessen the impact of stress*.
Katharine Westcar, Head of Marketing at Frasers Property UK said: “Guide Dogs is a brilliant charity and the team here are a valued part of our community, so we are really pleased to have supported their fundraising event.
“We’re also really grateful to them for putting on such a rewarding event and contributing to the health and wellbeing of our WinnershLife community. We believe that a positive work life balance leads to increased productivity, lower absenteeism and a happier, less stressed workforce, so we regularly arrange and run a variety of events and activities like this throughout the year for everyone to enjoy.”
