Guide Dogs North East

06/10/2026

Today marks 95 years since the UK’s first guide dog partnerships.

For Lorna from Darlington, who you might recognise from our Life Unleashed TV advert, being partnered with her first guide dog Yarren in 2020 has made a difference to her independence and her life as a mum.

“Now, I can do the school run without worrying, take my kids to soft play or the cinema. I could never have done that before. Yarren has actually made me a better mum.”

One particularly memorable moment was taking her son Rex, who also has a vision impairment, to the cinema with Yarren. After finding their screen and getting their audio-description headsets, Lorna realised what she’d achieved.

“There was a moment where I just thought, ‘This is why I have a guide dog. This is what it’s all about.’”

Guide Dogs helps people with sight loss experience life-changing firsts, unlocking the confidence, independence and freedom to live life on their own terms.

Today, we’re celebrating Lorna and Yarren, and the many thousands of partnerships that have been part of Guide Dogs’ history since 1931 💛

[Visual description: Guide dog owner Lorna with guide dog Yarren, a yellow Labrador cross golden retriever, confidently stride out together away from a house on a bright sunny day.]

29/09/2026

A little dose of puppy joy for the week! 🐾💙

Nine guide dog puppies arrived in the North East today and are now settling in with volunteers who’ll care for them as they begin the next stage of their guide dog journeys.

Could you help raise a future guide dog? Find out more about puppy raising and apply on our website: https://bit.ly/4ts1QLl

[Visual description: A montage of yellow and black Labrador x golden retriever puppies being cuddled by Guide Dogs staff as they arrive in the North East.]

29/09/2026

Tongue out Tuesday with newbie Naylor! 👅🍂

After spending the past year with his volunteer Puppy Raiser in South Yorkshire, Naylor has joined the team in Leeds for the next stage of his guide dog journey. He’ll stay with a volunteer fosterer while he trains.

He’s been doing so well with his recall on free runs, and here he is enjoying the autumn sunshine on his first free run at the Leeds training centre! 😍🐾

[Visual description: Yellow Labrador Naylor runs towards the camera across a sunlit grassy field, with his ears flapping and his tongue hanging out.]

24/09/2026

Making bus travel more accessible for people with sight loss 🚌

We recently joined forces with Thomas Pocklington Trust, West Yorkshire Sight Loss Councils and Arriva Yorkshire to deliver vision awareness training to bus drivers at Arriva’s Dewsbury depot.

The session combined lived experience of sight loss with practical sighted guiding techniques, helping drivers feel more confident supporting blind and partially sighted passengers.

Cathy Featherstone from Halifax, who uses buses weekly, said: “Knowing drivers will better understand how to help someone with a vision impairment will make a real difference.”

Read more about this partnership via the York Press: https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/26559648.new-scheme-supports-blind-bus-passengers-yorkshire/

Does your workplace or community group provide services to the public? Find out more about our sighted guide training via the following link: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/sighted-guide-training/corporate-sighted-guide-training/

[Visual description: A group of Guide Dogs, Thomas Pocklington Trust, Sight Loss Council and Arriva staff stand together in front of a blue double-decker Arriva bus at the Dewsbury depot. Most are wearing bright orange high-visibility vests following the bus driver vision awareness training session.]

23/09/2026

Meet Petal, Philip and North! 🐾💙

These three puppies have joined their volunteer Puppy Raisers this week and are taking their first steps on their guide dog journeys.

With their Puppy Raisers’ support, they’ll gradually get used to new places, people and experiences as they grow. Please join us in wishing them lots of luck! ✨

Could you help a puppy like Petal, Philip or North take their first steps towards becoming a guide dog? Find out more about volunteering as a Puppy Raiser: https://bit.ly/4ts1QLl 🐾

[Visual description: The first photo shows yellow Golden Retriever x Labrador puppy Petal sitting among soft toys and blankets, looking up at the camera. In the second, black Golden Retriever x Labrador puppy Philip looks up at the camera with an open-mouthed smile. The third shows black Labrador x Golden Retriever puppy North resting his front paws over the door of a vehicle crate.]

22/09/2026

Tongue out Tuesday with guide dog puppy Whisper! 😛🐾

Whisper paused her adventures at Plessey Woods Country Park in Northumberland to pose with this rather impressive woodland den. We think her happy face says she had a brilliant day! 💛

[Visual description: Whisper, a black Labrador guide dog puppy, sits with her tongue out at the entrance to a large woodland den made from branches and logs.]

16/09/2026

And they’re off! 🥾🐾💙

This morning, guide dog owner John from York, and his guide dog Max, set off from Milngavie to begin their incredible 96-mile West Highland Way challenge.

They were given a brilliant send-off by some local Guide Dogs staff, volunteers and puppies, who came along to wish them well before they started their journey towards Fort William.

John gradually lost his sight due to complications from Type 1 diabetes and says being partnered with Max gave him his confidence and independence back.

He’s also living with peripheral neuropathy, which has caused loss of feeling in his feet and fingertips and will make taking on the 96-mile route an even greater physical challenge.

John hopes the walk will raise awareness of sight loss, Type 1 diabetes and the secondary health conditions associated with it, while showing what’s possible with the right support.

We’ll be cheering John and Max on over the coming days – good luck to them both! 💛

You can show your support by sponsoring them via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/john-reeder-1

[Visual description: John and Max are pictured at the starting point of the West Highland Way in Milngavie, alongside a group of supporters and several guide dog puppies. John, wearing a yellow jacket and carrying a large walking backpack, stands beneath the West Highland Way sign with black guide dog Max beside him. The group are gathered in bright sunshine ahead of John and Max beginning their challenge.]

16/09/2026

Three generations of guide dogs in one very special photo 🐾💙

Working guide dog Chandler with his owner, Kay; one-year-old golden retriever Bonnie with her Puppy Raiser, Joyce; and eight-week-old Fletcher with Puppy Development Adviser Becky Wheldon.

Kay also enjoyed a cuddle with little Fletcher – who has the whole of his guide dog journey ahead of him!

From supporting a tiny puppy at the beginning of their journey to helping a dog reach qualification and transform someone’s life, could you volunteer with us and support people with sight loss to live the life they choose?

Find out more about volunteering for Guide Dogs: https://bit.ly/4fm2Eh2

[Visual description: The first photo shows Kay standing with black working guide dog Chandler, alongside Joyce with golden retriever Bonnie and Becky holding Fletcher, a tiny golden puppy. In the second photo, Kay smiles as she cradles Fletcher in her arms.]

15/09/2026

Could you help create life-changing partnerships between guide dogs and people with sight loss?

We’re recruiting three Academy Guide Dog Mobility Specialists to join our team in Newcastle 🐾

Guide Dog Mobility Specialists train and prepare guide dogs for their working lives, assess the needs of people with sight loss and bring people and dogs together to build successful partnerships. It’s a varied role combining hands-on dog training and working closely with service users – all with the aim of helping people live independently and confidently.

Starting in February 2027, you’ll complete a comprehensive training programme covering dog training and behaviour, dog health and wellbeing, sight loss awareness and service user assessment.

We’re looking for people who love working with dogs and helping others, and who are resilient, adaptable and ready for an active, rewarding career.

📍 Newcastle
⏰ Full-time, permanent
💷 £25,509–£28,000, with competency-based increases during training
📅 Apply by Sunday 21 September

Find out more and apply on our website: https://careers.guidedogs.org.uk/vacancies/982/academy-guide-dog-mobility-specialist-x-3-newcastle.html

[Visual description: A group of four Guide Dogs Academy staff members stood in a circle outdoors, smiling and chatting]

13/09/2026

Wishing everyone running for Guide Dogs at the Great North Run today the very best of luck! We'll be cheering you all on at the sidelines!

Sarah spoke to ITV Calendar ahead of the race about her daughter Indiana's sight condition and how she's chosen to run the race blindfolded, tethered to her friend Lucy:

Mother takes on Great North run blindfolded for her visually impaired daughter and the Guide Dogs charity. Watch here:
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/mother-to-take-on-great-north-run-blindfolded-for-visually-impaired-daughter/4qjv8m6