Emotional wellbeing support looks different for everyone. Whether it’s a chat with a colleague or time with a wellbeing dog, small moments of support can have a significant impact. 

With support from the Blue Light Card Foundation, blue light organisations across fire, ambulance, and police services have been able to establish their own wellbeing dog initiatives, embedding specialist dogs and trained handlers into their teams to provide vital peer-led emotional support. 

Each organisation received a structured setup package to get their wellbeing dog schemes off the ground. This included two days of initial training and consultation for five dog-handler teams, as well as core materials such as, staff handbooks, promotional tools and branded dog jackets to help integrate the scheme into their workplace wellbeing offer. 

To ensure quality, consistency, and long-term sustainability, each organisation also appointed a Single Point of Contact to oversee their scheme, supported throughout by a national lead with experience of embedding dog-led support across emergency services. 

The scheme is expected to reach thousands of staff across emergency services, helping to reduce stress, boost morale, and provide moments of calm for those dealing with trauma or emotional fatigue. 

Every dog visit and every team helped show what’s possible when we invest in frontline wellbeing. 

 Support more life-changing frontline programmes. 

Donate or fundraise to help us continue providing vital support to the people who keep us safe.