Charity of the Year
Support Dogs
Sheffield JLD Announces Support Dogs as Our Charity of the Year
The Sheffield JLD is delighted to announce that our Charity of the Year for 2026 is Support Dogs.
Support Dogs is a national charity based in Sheffield dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children and adults affected by autism, epilepsy, and physical disabilities. Through the provision of highly trained assistance dogs, the charity helps individuals gain greater independence, confidence, and quality of life.
What makes Support Dogs particularly special is its bespoke approach. Every assistance dog receives tailored training designed around the specific needs of its future owner and their family. The charity also invests significant time in helping owners build trust and confidence in their dog, ensuring that both dog and owner can thrive together as a partnership.
Many of the dogs trained by Support Dogs are rescue dogs, giving them a second chance at life while simultaneously transforming the lives of the people they support. It is a truly unique model that benefits both the dogs and the families they are matched with.
The impact of the charity's work is remarkable. Statistics from Support Dogs show that:
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100% of beneficiaries reported a reduction in care needs;
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50% reported a reduction in home visits from care workers; and
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86% became more socially active, meeting and speaking with more people.
In addition to transforming lives, Support Dogs has a huge societal value, estimating that their services save individuals, community services, and the NHS over £40 million a year.
Despite this incredible impact, Support Dogs receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations and fundraising to continue its work.
Our Charity Representative, Holly Wardle, selected Support Dogs after researching local charities and being deeply moved by the stories of those whose lives have been transformed through the charity's work. Many of us know someone affected by autism, epilepsy, or disability, making the charity's mission one that resonates with so many people.
Holly was also inspired by her own family experience. Her grandma was partially sighted but was always reluctant to get a guide dog due to concerns about caring for it and fears that it might create additional challenges. Learning about the support provided by Support Dogs highlighted how much emphasis the charity places not only on training the dog, but also on supporting owners to build confidence and trust in their assistance animal. Raising awareness of this aspect of the charity's work is something Holly is particularly passionate about, as she hopes more individuals and families will feel empowered to access the life-changing support available rather than fearing it.
Supporting the Future of Support Dogs
Support Dogs is currently undertaking an ambitious project to develop a new training and support centre. Once complete, the new facility will enable the charity to increase the number of clients it supports by an incredible 300%.
The charity has successfully completed Phase 1 of the project and is now fundraising for Phase 2, which will enable its operations to move to the new site. Raising awareness and securing donations will play a vital role in helping Support Dogs realise its vision, support more families, and transform even more lives in the years ahead. The Sheffield JLD is incredibly proud to be able to support their mission with the help of our members.
How Members Can Help
Every donation makes a tangible difference:
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£10 can provide 24 hours of care and assistance for someone affected by autism, epilepsy and disability by a Support Dog.
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£35 can provide the specialist equipment needed for a support dog to help keep a child with autism safe when crossing the road.
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£100 can pay for a two hour training session for a disability assistance dog, providing them with the skills to give life-critical alerts to their client.
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£500 can fund a two-day home matching session, enabling a child with autism to meet and begin building a relationship with their future support dog.
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£29,000 is the average cost of training a support dog from introduction through to graduation.
Get Involved
There are plenty of opportunities to support Support Dogs throughout the year, whether through fundraising, volunteering, or taking part in one of the charity's organised events.
Upcoming fundraising events include:
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Peak District Ultra Challenge – 4 July
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Great North Run – 13 September
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Support Dogs Abseil Day – 20 September
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Sheffield 10K – 27 September
Sheffield JLD looks forward to supporting Support Dogs throughout the year and helping to raise awareness of the life-changing work they do. Support Dogs will be attending the JLD’s Summer Gala scheduled for 30 July with further details to follow!
If you would like to get involved, take part in a fundraising challenge, or discuss ideas for how the JLD can support Support Dogs, please get in touch with Holly our Charities Representative.
Together, we can help Support Dogs continue transforming lives and expand their reach to support even more individuals and families across the UK.