We're delighted to announce that our chosen charity for 2023 is Guide Dogs UK. We’ve been set a challenge to raise £10,000 by the end of the year, so we can sponsor our very own guide dog named Air.
Why did we choose this charity?
Guide Dogs is a UK-based charity that provides mobility and independence to people who are blind or partially sighted by partnering them with a guide dog.
Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss that has a significant impact on their daily lives. Of those, around 180,000 rarely leave their homes alone and lead lonely, isolated lives.
Guide Dogs works for a world where people with sight loss are never left out of life, for a world where being blind or partially sighted is not what defines you. A world with enough support to make the challenges of sight loss no barrier to fulfilling hopes and dreams.
We were first introduced to the Guide Dogs charity at the start of this year, at our annual Sales & Marketing kick off. Brian Little, a friend of Air IT, attended our annual event to share his sales journey with our Sales & Marketing teams, how he has achieved Brilliance in his career, a key theme of the event, and finally how has adapted since losing his vision only 18 months ago.
As a technology company inclusivity is at our core and Guide dogs are a key provider of inclusion.
Brian Little, a volunteer fundraiser for Guide Dogs UK, says:
The reason I got involved in Guide Dogs was because I was looking for a purpose having lost my vision at the age of 65. I spoke to other charities, but it just clicked with Guide Dogs, we were lined up and share the same enthusiasm. They set expectations and they deliver them; they trained my family and advised me on how I can adapt my home. There’s that positive uplifting feeling with Guide Dogs.
The other thing about Guide Dogs that stole my heart is that they are the biggest provider of support for children and families with sight loss. The way they support young people and adults really touches you.
Currently, the waiting list for a guide dog is 2 years and the funding from Air IT will bring this down. I’m thankful for Air IT for being a part of this and will do anything to help boost the funds.
The following video was shared with us, which gives an insight into the world of someone who has lost their vision, what they experience every day and how losing their sight hasn’t stopped them from being ambitious and achieving their dreams:
What does the £10,000 go towards?
The £10,000 takes the puppy from birth and through advanced training, until the point of handover where they will be partnered with a visually impaired person. We’ll be taking part in various challenges and fundraisers throughout the year to raise £10,000 so that we can support someone with sight loss to live a more fulfilling life with the assistance of their very own Guide Dog.
A special dog named Air
Once we have reached our target, we will name our own puppy, Air, which has already been approved by the naming team at Guide Dogs. At 12 weeks old, Air will be able to visit our teams across our offices where a volunteer puppy walker will look after the dog until they are 12 months old. At 12 months old, Air will go to a training centre Monday to Friday and will be at home with a volunteer in the evenings and weekends.
Currently the average wait time for a guide dog is 2 years, this funding is to help bring this down and Air will be able to change someone’s life in a positive way.
Want to help us reach our target?
If you would like to donate to our fundraiser in support of Guide Dogs UK, you can do so through our JustGiving page. We’ll be posting regular updates from the various challenges and fundraisers we plan to be take part in throughout the year and we’re looking forward to sharing updates of Air in due course.
If you and your business would like to take part in any of the fundraisers we do throughout this year, or would like Brian to visit and speak about Guide Dogs, please get in touch with your Account Manager and we’d be delighted for you to support us on this journey.
Head to our fundraising page
