Guide Dogs Scotland

31/08/2026

Emily Hogg, an eight-year-old pupil from Linlithgow Primary School, has been handmaking bracelets with her mum Rikke and has raised an incredible £553.14 for Guide Dogs. 💙👏

Emily and Rikke recently met pups Kenny, Wilton, Dale and Owen, along with some of our volunteers, which was a wonderful opportunity for us to say thank you to this inspirational young lass!

Iain Hill, Guide Dogs Fundraising Volunteer Coordinator for Stirlingshire, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, said: "Emily and Rikkie’s 'Mission of Kindness' fundraising is just that. A true outpouring of kindness, that Guide Dogs Scotland are so happy to be the recipients of.

"We were delighted to meet them and convey our thanks in person and most importantly from our local Guide Dog pups. We have been so inspired by them that we will be joining together to raise funds throughout the rest of 2026. So watch out for some exciting activities and creative crafts coming soon!"

[Photo shows Emily and her mum, along with some of our volunteers and pups, and others who have benefitted from their fundraising.]

31/08/2026

Our Southside Fundraising Group Coordinator, Fiona, is stepping down from her role leading the group, which she has done for the last 10 years!

Fiona said: “The role is extremely rewarding and it has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated and supportive team. Some of our volunteers have a vision impairment, and I have seen how having a guide dog has transformed their lives giving them independence.

Over the last 10 years there have been many successes but I think the thing that stands out most is talking to the public and hearing from them – many of them sponsor a puppy and they want to tell us about their support of the charity and the good work it does. Having dogs at our collections is also a big draw!”

Fiona has worked across Glasgow Southside and East Renfrewshire to build relationships with local businesses and sourcing new opportunities for the group to attend. Annual coffee mornings, the Eaglesham Fair, and collections through Taste at Tesco are just some of the events Fiona has led on.

As well as working with businesses, group coordinators organise rotas, communicating with rest of the volunteers, and being the link between the volunteer group and Guide Dogs. Fiona said: “It helps to be organised, good at record keeping and let volunteers know what’s happening with future events – we use a private Facebook group and WhatsApp to communicate with each other and organise rotas for events.”

Sandi Johnson, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “I have been extremely lucky to work and volunteer alongside Fiona and having her as the Southside Group Coordinator steering the group to success and assisting them to grow and develop within the corporate sector has been wonderful to oversee. I will miss having Fiona as a Group Coordinator and I am so glad she has decided to stay on to help with our corporate fundraising.”

So it’s not goodbye! But it does mean the Southside Group Coordinator role is now available for people to apply to. If you’d like to find out more about taking the lead, visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/be-part-of-a-fundraising-group/fundraising-co-ordinator/ or contact Emma at [email protected]

[Photo shows Fiona (on the left) holding the lead of a yellow dog, along with three other volunteers at Eaglesham Fair. They are standing at the Guide Dogs marquee with lots of merchandise.]

29/08/2026

Vadar being an absolute star ✨

Thank you for your continued support, ScotRail 🦮💙

28/08/2026

It's the one and only Forfar Friday! Enjoy this week's selection of photos showing what some of our guide dogs in training have been up to.

[There are 9 photos with descriptions.]

27/08/2026

A care home resident in Gatehouse of Fleet who was left temporarily immobile will walk 0.3 miles in aid of Guide Dogs next week 💙

Drew McNaught was inspired after guide dog puppies and volunteers visited Fleet Valley Care Home.

Drew has been working to build up the strength in his legs to complete a walk to the local SPAR shop to buy his favourite chocolates.

“When I moved to the care home last December, I was immobile,” said Drew.

“I collapsed in my flat and it was three days before my friend found me. When I woke up in hospital I had virtually no memory and no use of the left side of my body. I couldn’t get out of bed, let alone stand up.

“Fleet Valley is an amazing place. Thanks to the dedication and support from the staff, I can now walk with a mobility device.”

Drew, a lifelong dog lover, has missed having a canine companion since moving into the home but a visit from some local guide dogs puppies changed that.

“I love dogs and have always had them as pets,” he said.

“When the guide dog pups came in, I just felt they knew I liked them. You could see how happy it made some of the other residents too. Their faces lit up.

“It costs so much to train the guide dogs so I decided my ultimate goal for this year would be to walk to the shop to raise money for them. As well as dogs, I love Maltesers, so I want to be able to walk to the shop and buy them without relying on someone else.

“I enjoy having challenges and goals to work towards so I’m really looking forward to doing this. If anyone would like to support my walk and donate to Guide Dogs, it would be greatly appreciated.”

If you'd like to make a donation to Drew’s challenge, you can visit his Just Giving page via this link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/audrey-laidlaw-1

Photo shows Drew and some of our volunteers and pups during a visit to the care home.

[Photo description, from left to right: Volunteer June with guide dog puppy Sula (a black GSD cross lab), Drew who is holding the lead of Cal (a golden retriever with distinct black and tan colouring), volunteer Audrey with ambassador dog Nutmeg (yellow) and Cal's puppy raiser Amanda.]

26/08/2026

Want to work for Guide Dogs? We’re recruiting a Qualified Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) within our Scotland team.

The post is full-time, permanent, and will be for the geographical area of Glasgow and the West of Scotland with some additional travel required.

As a VRS at Guide Dogs, you’ll empower and enable people with sight loss to develop the skills, confidence and independence they need to live the life they choose.

Through personalised assessment, rehabilitation and wellbeing support, you’ll help individuals adapt to changing circumstances and achieve their goals at home, work and within their communities.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 2 September.

For more information or to apply, please visit the link below.

🔗 https://tinyurl.com/VRSvacancy

[Photo shows two people walking on a pavement. One is using a long cane, with a VRS from Guide Dogs walking alongside them.]

26/08/2026

Have you ever thought about fostering a guide dog in training?

Fostering offers a unique opportunity to support a dog on its journey while becoming part of the amazing Guide Dogs community! It's a rewarding way to make a real difference and help shape a future partnership that could transform someone's life.

We currently have fostering opportunities in Forfar and Hamilton. We'll need you to drop the dog off at our Forfar centre on weekdays between 7-9am and collect them between 5-6pm. In Hamilton, you would drop the dog off at our office between 8-9am and collect them between 5-5.45pm.

All food and vet costs are covered so this could be the ideal role for someone who loves dogs but can't commit to having one full-time.

This International Dog Day, why not find out how you could be part of the journey? Visit: https://tinyurl.com/mtabeekh

[Photo shows four trainee guide dogs looking happy as they pose together at our Forfar centre with their tongues out.]

To provide temporary accommodation for a dog at home on behalf of Guide Dogs and to comply with the Fosterer Agreement in relation to the welfare and handling of the dog or puppy.

25/08/2026

Would you like to give a gift to our trainee guide dogs? 🦮

Our Hamilton team have added some new items to our Amazon wish list.

Our wish lists directly support our trainee guide dogs and help them on their way to becoming life-changers. 💛

Check out the items listed by following the link below.

🔗 www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1C57J3F8E2HT0

[Photo shows trainee guide dogs Charli (lying down), Maureen and Taylor (both sitting), all yellow, looking towards camera in our Hamilton office.]

24/08/2026

🐾 Guide Dogs Open Clinic – Edinburgh 🐾

Have questions about Guide Dogs? Thinking about applying for a guide dog? Already have a guide dog and would like some advice or support?

Come along to our friendly drop-in clinic and meet a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist and a Dog Care and Welfare Specialist. Whether you're a guide dog owner, applicant, prospective applicant, or simply interested in learning more, we'd love to meet you.

📅 9 September 2026
⏰ 1:30pm to 3:30pm
☕ Free tea and coffee available
🦮 Equipment replacement available for guide dog owners
💬 Friendly advice and information about all things Guide Dogs
📍 RNIB Scotland, 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 5EA

No appointment needed, just drop in!

[Photo shows a yellow guide dog in training walking along the pavement in harness with a person dressed in black.]

24/08/2026

On Friday, 17-week-old guide dog puppy Vadar enjoyed his first train journey with ScotRail. 💙

Vadar did a wonderful job, navigating through the station, boarding/disembarking calmly, and settling well on board.

Thank you to ScotRail for your continued support, assisting our puppies, volunteers and service users across the country. 🐾

🦇🐶 Oh..who's this little pup and what're they doing here.. Guide Dogs Scotland