Support Service

Barks & Recreation is a two-strong team of experienced social care professionals that provide support to people who have a learning disability to walk dogs.

The organisation is run by myself, Stephen Brown - a dog enthusiast with fifteen years of experience in social care. I pride myself and the organisation on providing a personable, reliable and consistent service that offers a range of benefits, unique to the people it supports.

Get fit, lose weight, meet dogs or make new friends… there are lots of great reasons to walk dogs with us. We don’t mind as long as you’re having fun!

Our supported dog walking service provides one-to-one support to people who have a learning disability to walk dogs. The people who use our service are supported to walk the dogs we visit as part of our dog walking service.

the benefits

In addition to the natural therapeutic qualities of spending time with animals, walking dogs is a great form of gentle exercise that can help to benefit your physical health and mental wellbeing, as well as being an opportunity to meet new people.

We also share profit generated from our dog walking service with the people that we support, at the end of each month.

our dogs

We have dogs to match all levels of mobility and confidence. Before we start, we meet with everybody that we support to ask their preferences with regards to dogs and the type or behaviour of dog they feel most comfortable with.

For example, for people who aren’t great on their feet they’ll be more likely paired with Georgie the Pug and her friends, rather than an overly-affectionate Roy the Labrador.

our support

We are both trained and experienced in a variety of social care settings and with dogs. All team members are DBS police-checked and fully insured.

Our support can be funded through social care budgets, direct payments or personal finances. Transport is provided so support can start and end at the individuals home, with no additional travel expenses.

Areas covered: Preston and surrounding area (a small additional charge may apply for locations 5+ miles from Preston).

Interested?

If you’d like to register your interest in this service you can do so by clicking here. Alternatively if you would like more information get in touch.