Greyhound therapy project awarded National Lottery funding to reduce loneliness in Essex

An organisation in Essex has set tails wagging after receiving £10,000 to support visits to isolated and vulnerable people with its team of ever dependable greyhounds.

Acehounds in Uttlesford, has received the funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to increase its animal therapy visits to vulnerable and isolated people, including elderly and young people.

The dogs provide moments of friendly companionship and help to draw people out of their shell and boost their mood, wellbeing and confidence through therapeutic animal contact.

Acehounds was founded by Elaine Sheppard who started rehoming racing greyhounds 16 years ago. After realising how much pleasure her volunteer walkers were getting from being around the dogs, she realised that they could be used to benefit people’s mental health. The greyhounds soon proved to be the perfect breed for care home visits, as they are known for being placid and good natured and are the perfect height for those in a wheelchair or are bed bound.

Thanks to lottery funding, Acehounds offers its services five days a week, visiting vulnerable people on an individual or group basis at care homes, dementia clubs and community facilities, with two to four visits carried out each day. Group visits allow isolated individuals to meet up using the dogs and the skills of their handlers as a way of building their confidence and communication skills.

With the help of the new National Lottery Funding, Elaine, who runs Acehounds with her friend and colleague Dawn Revill, now hopes to increase the number of weekly visits she does by recruiting volunteer dog handers, as well as visit more young people who may feel isolated due to their mental or physical condition.

Elaine Sheppard, Founder of Acehounds, said: “Visiting isolated and vulnerable people with these wonderful dogs is truly heart-warming. It enables people struggling with a variety of social, mental or other emotional issues to start rebuilding their quality of life, especially in relation to their personal wellbeing. We are now hoping to work more closely with young people that are having difficulties with fitting in with life today and are experiencing mental health conditions. We are so grateful to National Lottery players for this grant, without them we wouldn’t be able to grow to accommodate the ever-increasing requests for our service.”

Helen Bushell, Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, our funding is having a huge impact on people’s lives across the East of England. Groups like Acehounds are continuing their great work to help reduce loneliness and isolation, while building community spirit and a sense of inclusion.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. In the last 12 months it has given out nearly £600 million to 12,500 organisations reaching every local authority and constituency in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk