Scotland Newsletter Welcome to issue three People talk about walking over hot coals for something they love but a group of brave souls gathered at East Kilbride Holiday Inn, during Guide Dogs Week, to walk the walk. Twenty five people including volunteers, staff and supporters walked across 20 feet of wood embers burning at 1236 degrees Fahrenheit, raising over 2000 in the process. Our intrepid firewalkers Special mention should go to guide dog owners Charlotte Bennie, Ruby Shah, Cheryl Bradshaw and Liam Doran as well as GDO in waiting Graham Gunning, who took a real leap of faith to take part. We also wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped to make Guide Dogs Week such a success. A special mention for one of our most high-profile supporters Celtic FC who helped us launch the week by having Buddy Dogs as mascots leading the team captains on to the pitch at Parkhead. As we get to the end of the year, it s worth casting a glance back on some of the other highlights our fundraisers achieved over the past months. Danny Rooney s Drumoig golf day, the Perth and District fundraising group s success at Blair, the Aberdeen fundraising group s magnificent Gala Ball, and the awareness raising activities at the Glasgow and Edinburgh Melas, all helped put Guide Dogs Scotland on the map in towns and cities across Scotland. Huge thanks are richly deserved to all involved. To read about these events and more, visit
News Edinburgh Trams Blind and partially sighted people across Scotland will be allowed to use their travel passes on the Edinburgh Trams. Press reports had suggested that City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) aimed only to allow Edinburgh residents, who hold a travel concession pass (Scottish National Entitlement Card), to travel on the trams for free. This would have meant that for the first time since 1999, blind or partially sighted people would pay for using public transport in Scotland. However, Councillor Lesley Hinds, Convenor of the Transport Committee of CEC, has clarified that this is not to be the case. On board with Talking Buses Guide dog owner and local councillor Sheila Hands recently attended a media event promoting National Express Dundee s Service 5 bus, which provides passengers with audio and visual next stop information. The technology is installed on all nine of the Dundee Service 5 green hybrid-electric double-deckers. This is a welcome development supporting Guide Dogs Talking Buses campaign. See more here: I want to congratulate National Express Dundee for putting this technology into place it s great for regular users of Service 5, said Sheila Hands. I hope other bus operators will follow suit and consider installing the system and that the Scottish Government might consider funding to make this sort of technology more widespread. Sheila Hands with Phil Smith
Can you help with a survey about the health of guide dogs? Guide Dogs Canine Research team needs your help. If you're a guide dog owner and would be willing to take part in a telephone questionnaire and / or a face-to-face focus group about guide dog health, then please contact Rachel Moxon on 0845 372 7432, or email rachel.moxon@guidedogs.org.uk. Engagement Access for all We often hear that some people are still being refused access to shops, restaurants, taxis and other services because they have their guide dogs with them. Under the Equality Act (2010), it s against the law for service providers to treat people who are blind or partially sighted less favourably because of their disability, or because they have a guide dog with them. Much of the time this is a mistake on the part of the service provider, but if they refuse to listen to your explanation, please let your local mobility team know. One of our Engagement Officers will speak to the business to remind them of their obligations. In addition, we work with organisations like VisitScotland, local bus operators and transport partnerships to gather their support in making sure that Scotland provides access for everyone. Come and see us in Inverness We are holding an information day at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, on Friday 22 November. Working alongside the local fundraising group, we will be providing details on Guide Dogs Scotland s services, volunteering opportunities and there will even be a chance to have a blindfold walk with a guide dog. Please come along and meet us between 10.00am and 4.00pm. A Christmas pup
Volunteering Service User Representative Unfortunately, Dr Derek Naysmith had to resign as MTSUR for the Edinburgh Mobility Team because of health reasons. So we will very shortly be inviting new applications for the role. A letter, in your preferred format, will be going out to all our service users in the next few weeks with further details of how to apply. In the meantime, if you wish to discuss anything about this role please contact Volunteer Consultant, Emma Murton, by calling Edinburgh Mobility Team office on 0845 372 7406. Alternatively email Emma at emma.murton@guidedogs.org.uk. Puppy walkers wanted Do you have what it takes to start a guide dog puppy on the road to being a fullyfledged guide dog? We are looking for people in both the West and East of Scotland to volunteer as puppy walkers. The areas targeted are South Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Ayr, Tayside, Angus and Perthshire. This crucial role prepares guide dog puppies for their working life ahead by A pup at walk familiarising them with different environments including the home, towns and public transport. Puppy walkers provide the full-time care and education of a puppy from six weeks of age until they are between 12 and 14 months old. The puppies then return to Guide Dogs to begin their formal training at our Forfar Training School. If you or anyone you know is interested in this volunteering opportunity, call Ruby Shah, in the Glasgow Mobility Team, on 0845 372 7436, Emma Murton, in the Edinburgh Mobility Team, on 0845 372 7406. You can also visit for more information.
Fundraising Coniston Challenge Guide Dogs Scotland led the way at this year s Coniston Challenge. The Bridie Bunch, from Forfar who had undertaken months of intensive training stormed through the 15km bike ride, 4k kayak and 9k climb up the Old Man of Coniston to be first home. Having followed a somewhat softer training regime, Glasgow Mobility Team s Weegie Allstars made sure everyone else was safely home before finishing the course themselves. Congratulations to all who took part, particularly as the weather was horrendous. Special mention should go to Ruby Shah who, having left her guide dog Kassie at home, completed the challenging climb with support from team mates Mary and Terry Thorpe. Go Walkies for Guide Dog Week Inverclyde Fundraising Group enjoyed some rare sunshine at their Go Walkies, in Battery Park, in Greenock, during Guide Dogs Week. The Inverclyde group is currently looking for new members and they would love to hear from anyone who is interested in getting involved. For details please call Kyla Stratton on 0845 372 7436. Go walkies participants
Events Let us know about your event We know our supporters do fantastic work in raising funds for Guide Dogs life-changing services. The energy, creativity and determination of our volunteers and fundraisers is inspiring. Every contribution, big and small, makes a massive difference. We like to celebrate these stories but, more importantly, we want to support you in your hard work. So if you are organising a fundraising event, be sure to let your community The Perth fundraising group in action fundraiser know. And to help publicise your event, either contact your local mobility team, or let us know at scotlandmedia@guidedogs.org.uk, and we will make some noise about it on Guide Dogs social media, this newsletter, and our website, Christmas Card Stall The Inverness Fundraising Group have obtained a space at this year s United Charities Christmas stall in the Eastgate Centre. The group will be at the stand in the Eastgate Centre selling Guide Dogs Christmas cards from Monday 4 November to Sunday 17 November and invite you to come along and have a look at their card selection. Reeling for Guide Dogs The Dunfermline Strathspey and Reel Society are holding a concert in aid of Guide Dogs Scotland on Thursday 7 November. The event takes place at the Dell Farquharson Centre, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7DS, from 7.00pm until 9.00PM. Tickets are priced 5. For more information about the concert, call Gwyneth Young on 01506 493790, or visit
Glasgow s Hydro New concert venue in Glasgow, the SSE Hydro, has opened its gates for the first time this month. Guide Dogs Scotland has been very lucky to secure a collection at the venue, which has a 12,000 plus capacity. On Saturday 23 November we will be at tenor Andrea Bocelli s gig with our collection buckets. We are presently looking for a limited number of volunteers to help out on the night, anyone interested should contact Kyla Stratton on 0845 372 7436. Dine in the dark A unique dining experience giving a taste of life as a blind or partially sighted person is being served by the Dundee fundraising group. The volunteers are holding a Dinner in the Dark where guests are invited to eat blindfolded. The event takes place from 7.00pm at Gracie's Tapas Bar, in Broughty Ferry, on Tuesday 3 December. Dining in the dark A three course Christmas Tapas menu is being served, with entertainment from Sparky the magician, a prize raffle, and "slave" auction of services including dog boarder, car valet, as well as Sparky for children s parties. Tickets - priced 25 - can be bought from Brian Cunningham on 01382 477001.
Contact us Edinburgh Mobility Team Covering Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, East, West and Mid Lothian, Moray, Perth and Kinross, Scottish Borders, Stirling and Clackmannanshire. Vantage Point, 24 St John s Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12 6NZ t: 0845 372 7406. e: edinburgh@guidedogs.org.uk Glasgow Mobility Team Covering Argyll and Bute, North, South and East Ayrshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Eilean Siar, Glasgow, Highland, Inverness-shire, North and South Lanarkshire, Orkney, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire and Shetland. Axis House, 12 Auchingramont Road, Hamilton ML3 6JT. t: 0845 372 7436. e: glasgow@guidedogs.org.uk Guide Dog Training School, Forfar Guide Dog Training School, Dean Way, Orchardbank Business Park, Forfar DD8 1WG. t: 0845 372 7408 If you do not wish to receive this bulletin please let your local Mobility Team know. Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SCO38979).