Volunteer Spotlight: Ken and Denise
28/05/2025
Story
How did you get involved with Dogs for Good?
We were persuaded to go to an open morning at Dogs for Good about 18 years ago, we hadn’t heard of assistance dogs and how they could help people. We left inspired.
After making enquiries with the Dogs for Good team, we realised we could socialise a puppy, with Ken taking it to his work place, and we also persuaded my company to donate.
What’s the best thing about your role at Dogs for Good?
After getting our first puppy, we were keen to still do more and help fundraise. A few months later, the Banbury and District Supporters Group was born. Since then, the Banbury Group has raised over £250,000 which we’re incredibly proud of.
It’s been great seeing the puppies we look after go off and support people, knowing that we helped support a gorgeous bundle of fur to become an amazing dog, but we also love meeting new people and speaking to them about Dogs for Good. We go to fetes and other locations and are always looking for new ways to raise money for the charity, from dog shows to craft fairs.
We are registered speakers, although Ken does this so much more than me. Ken jokes he does this because he doesn’t play golf! But we love how volunteering has given us social friendship, fitness of walking the pups, and meeting interesting people at events.
What would you say to someone considering volunteering at Dogs for Good?
I would say, whatever you want to volunteer to do, be it helping in the offices at the centre, driving and delivering pups, becoming a registered speaker, puppy socialising, boarding the older dogs when they go to ‘school’ or generally fundraising just DO IT!!
Our volunteers help to make life possible
Could you help us change lives by joining our volunteer family?
A breakthrough partnership that transformed a childhood
When autism assistance dog Caddie joined Joel’s family, no one could foresee how he’d help change the course of Joel’s life, helping him surpass what everyone thought possible.
A life-changing bond with mental and physical health benefits
After an unexpected diagnosis of MS, Neil soon had to rely on a mobility scooter. He found himself embarrassed and demoralised, staying in the office at lunchtime and feeling ignored and avoided when he did encounter people in the street. In 2021 he was paired with Sage, his “four-legged life-changer”.
Opening up the possibilities to thrive
Style Acre provides person-centred services for 288 adults with learning disabilities and autism across Oxfordshire. The Dogs for Good community dog team supports people there to build life skills for themselves, helping them feel independent, confident and more connected to the world.