Guide Dogs Newcastle celebrated a move to new premises at Gosforth Business Park as part of a major investment which will allow the charity to support more people living with sight-loss In Newcastle and in the North East.
To help mark the occasion, the charity held an opening event which was attended by a special guest, former Middlesbrough and England footballer Dave Thomas.
Dave is a guide dog owner himself, due to the fact that he has glaucoma, and his guide dog Hannah was trained by the Newcastle team in 2017.
Dave has spoken about the difference that Hannah has made in his life, and how he feels to be invited back to open this new centre.
"I think the most important thing is the independence that Hannah has given me. She's an amazing dog, she has changed my life. It’s been a pleasure to open the new centre here in Newcastle today – it means so much."
Guide Dogs Newcastle was previously located at Park View House in Benton, and the team includes expert staff that train guide dogs. It is also a hub for support services that the charity offers, such as orientation and mobility services.
The organisation has had a North East presence since 1971, and the new site will provide a 150% increase in capacity for training dogs, as well as an improved training environment for both humans and canines.
Debbie Linford, the Regional Head of Skills, Information and Support Services at Guide Dogs, has given her thoughts on what the move will bring to the charity.
“This major move will enable Guide Dogs to partner more people with sight loss in Newcastle and the North East to a life-changing guide dog, by helping us to train more dogs and reduce the waiting list.
“We’d like to extend our gratitude to our amazing network of volunteers – it’s not just our facilities that will enable us to continue our life-changing work across the North East - without our volunteers, it would be impossible.
“With these new facilities here in Newcastle, new services, new technologies and our amazing staff, volunteers, dogs and supporters, we will be there for the next 50 years and beyond.”
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