The charity, Dogs for Autism, hopes to provide more people with the unique support the specially trained animals can give. A new training centre has opened after volunteers carried out a DIY SOS-style renovation of a disused building in Alton, Hampshire.
Among those to receive help from the charity is Grace whose dog, Macca, has had a positive impact on her quality of life and has helped ease her anxiety.
“I get anxious but at the same time I get really overwhelmed – sights, sounds and smells overwhelm me,” she said. “I would not be going out on my own so I would be housebound.” But that has changed since Macca came into her life. “It’s remarkably different – if I didn’t have him, I’d be struggling”.
Read the full story about how the idea to help raise the necessary funds for the charity began.