Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation

The Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation (PADs), registered charity number 1173512, is a UK-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with psychiatric disabilities through the provision and training of psychiatric assistance dogs. The foundation operates nationwide across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, aiming to improve the quality of life and independence of people living with mental health conditions.

Mission and Activities

PADs focuses on:

• Educating and training individuals with psychiatric disabilities in the proper use and care of their psychiatric assistance dogs.
• Raising public awareness about psychiatric disabilities and the benefits of assistance dogs in supporting affected individuals.
• Providing support to psychiatric assistance dog owners to foster their independence and reduce reliance on carers and mental health services.

The foundation offers guidance on selecting suitable dog breeds for assistance roles and provides access to a comprehensive online training guide to help handlers prepare for the Public Access Test required for full membership. PADs ensures that clients have a medical recommendation and are assessed to confirm that an assistance dog would complement their treatment and lifestyle needs.

Services

• Registration of individuals with psychiatric disabilities and their assistance dogs.
• Ongoing training support and resources for dog handlers.
• Advocacy and information dissemination regarding handler rights and public access with psychiatric assistance dogs.
• Support for the public, businesses, families, carers, and mental health professionals to facilitate understanding and accommodation of psychiatric assistance dogs.

Governance

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees responsible for its management and administration. As of the latest data, the trustees include Malcolm Seward (Chair), Kim Thompson, and Zoe Norquoy. PADs operates with volunteer support and maintains policies for complaints, safeguarding, serious incident reporting, and social media conduct to ensure ethical and effective operation.

Impact

By enabling greater independence among individuals with psychiatric disabilities, PADs aims to reduce demand on the National Health Service and decrease the need for personal carers, thereby promoting self-esteem and lowering care costs.

Registration and Status

• Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) since 21 June 2017.
• Charity Number: 1173512.
• Operating name: PADS Foundation.

The Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation continues to be a vital resource for people facing psychiatric challenges, leveraging the unique support capabilities of assistance dogs to enhance lives across the UK.

[1] https://pads.foundation [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5098705/contact-information [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5098705/full-print [4] https://pads.foundation/donate-now/ [5] https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/psychiatric-abistance-dogs-foundation-259020