Guide Dogs Northern Ireland

02/09/2026

Beautiful Granddad, Granddaughter moment ♥️ 🐕 🎥

01/09/2026

Back to school! 🏫

Well not really... our training dogs have been busy all summer in preparation to be future life-changers 📚

It's been a bustling couple of months as the dogs have been learning lots. They've also had plenty of fun with our Guide Dog Mobility Specialists, trainees and volunteer fosterers. We hope you'll continue to wish them well on their respective journeys 🐾

guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer

[Image shows GDMS Tim & Stoer, Academy GDMS's Julie & Chloe with Rocket & Willa, all in front of one of the Guide Dogs branded vans]

31/08/2026

LEGO Sale in aid of Guide Dogs NI 🦮

📍 The Village Hall, Hillsborough BT26 6AR
📅 Saturday 24th October
⏰ 9am - 4pm

In memory of fundraising volunteer Ian Armstrong, Ian's parents are kindly holding a LEGO Sale to raise money for Guide Dogs NI, Cancer Focus & Marie Curie 🐾

Originally from Letterbreen, Enniskillen Ian had previously survived a brain tumour at the age of eight, which had left him partially sighted, Ian found a home in Bangor and the Peninsula Fundraising Group, even completing a parachute jump to raise money for Guide Dogs 🦮

In tribute to their son, Ian’s parents Helen McElmurray and Roy Armstrong are holding a massive sale of their son’s Lego sets and boxes, and Magpie Bricks have opened a huge display to be viewed with an option to donate ❤️

Please share with any Lego fans in your life, who would like the opportunity to pick up a few bricks on the day! 🧱

[Image 1 shows training dog Rocket practicing chin rest on the LEGO display, with a guide dog owner minifigure beside him. Image 2 shows a poster with the event details on it surrounding a photo some of the items on sale]

28/08/2026

"It's really important to us that everywhere is accessible, that it's open to everybody. but there's some places that we know that just can't be made fully accessible due to their historic nature and age. That's where our sighted guiding training comes in."

Last week, we visited Carrickfergus Castle to celebrate our partnership with the Department for Communities Historic Environment Divison, joined by Minister Gordon Lyons.

The teams at Carrickfergus and Dunluce Castles can now offer guiding assistance confidently, ensuring these historic sites are accessible to those living with a vision impairment.

If your organisation would like the training email [email protected] or to find out more visit the following webpage >> https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/sighted-guide-training/

[2-minute 7-second video shows Comms Specialist Mark, Minister for Communities and guide dog owner & volunteer Torie speaking to camera. Montage of some of our amazing volunteers, puppies Vye, Houston & Milo, ambassador dog Parker and guide dog Vivvy. Montage of Minister Lyons undertaking a short sight loss awareness session; trying Meta Ray Bans with VRS Laura, being guided under sleepshade by Sighted Guiding Training Officer Paula and pouring with Habilitation Specialists Hannah & Nicola]

26/08/2026

There's still some time (but not a lot!) to sign up to join our Advisory Board ⏰

We are looking for volunteers with lived experience of sight loss of all backgrounds, communities, ages and experiences. You don't need to have a guide dog, or to have used our services.

You just need to be over 18, living in NI and have lived experience of sight loss. Your voice matters, and we would love to hear from you. For any queries, feel free to contact Penny and Charlotte, our Lived Experience Officers, at: [email protected]

The Expression of Interest in Guide Dogs Northern Ireland Advisory Board form is available at the following link >> https://bit.ly/NIAdvisory

[Visual description: Three guide dogs wearing harnesses (From left to right, black Labrador cross, pale yellow Labrador and black Labrador) sat down and stood behind two cardboard placards with writing on them. The first placard reads "Everyone should be allowed in pubs, restaurants, shops and taxis and the second placard reads "Tired of being left in the cold by taxis"]

24/08/2026

At the ould Lammas Fair, boys, were you ever there? 🎶

Well we are here collecting today and tomorrow and would love if you would pop along and say hello on the grounds of Ballycastle Integrated Primary School 🦮

Our thanks to Alex for sorting out the location and to the team at Halifax who have joined us to fundraise! 🐾

[2 images showing some of the Halifax crew wearing their Guide Dogs NI bibs and holding buckets outside the school]

23/08/2026

As the old song goes, it's Whiskey on a Sunday 🥃

This is 5-month-old Labrador x Golden Retriever Whiskey who is being puppy raised in Bangor 🐾

We are sure you'll welcome this gorgeous girl on to the NI Puppy Raising scheme and a dram of good luck for the rest of her life-changing journey! 🦮

[Image shows Whiskey sitting on grass in a very sunny garden, staring at the camera]

23/08/2026

21/08/2026

Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has visited Carrickfergus Castle with Guide Dogs Northern Ireland to highlight work to increase Inclusion and Access at our State Care Monuments. 🏰

The session showcased how Guide Dogs NI help people living with sight loss live actively, independently and well. 🐕‍🦺

👀 Find out more:

https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/guide-dogs-castle

20/08/2026

A huge thank you to Eurospar Wallace Village and their customers for their support which has totalled over £1,100 over the month of July 🐾

One customer also drew the winning ticket to name a guide dog puppy - Jake - in recognition of the £2500 raised for Guide Dogs over the previous year or so 🦮

Thanks to our amazing Guide Dogs Lisburn & District Fundraising Group for their dedication as always! ❤️

If you, as an individual or as part of an organisation, would like to know more about naming a puppy, email [email protected] or visit guidedogs.org.uk/nameapuppy

[Image shows Eurospar Wallace Village staff handing over a large cheque to local volunteers from Guide Dogs NI, along with puppy-in-training Ridley.]