Well as we set off in to 2023 I’ve had a look back on 2022 and as with every year I’m always in awe of how much our little fundraising branch manages to raise. With the staggering generosity of two people who sadly passed away and left us bequests The East and Mid Suffolk fundraising branch raised £145,298-20 last year.

Sadly with each year the lifetime cost of each Guide Dog also rises along with the costs of our other services:

• £75.7 million to deliver our services
• £34,600 to breed and train a single dog
• £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement

We couldn’t do anything without the generosity of local businesses in Felixstowe and the surrounding area. They have helped with raffle prizes, hiding toy dogs for our treasure hunts and advertising our events. On that note, I must say huge thanks to the Tuesday Night Darts Team for their donation towards our craft fair this year, to Marketing Force for all our banner and poster designs and printing and to Prologic and The Crescent Cafe for continued support with almost everything we do!
The biggest thank you though goes to you, the public without you we couldn’t do anything! You continue to support our events and collections wherever we are, so thank you from all our volunteers and our Guide Dogs.

2023 will hopefully see us out there fundraising and raising awareness of what we do as a charity. Many people still think that all we do is provide dogs for people who can’t see. But whilst that is still our main area we do so much more. Guide Dogs provides services for Blind children UK, such as equipment to help with education and around mobility, we provide trained sighted guides to assist those visually impaired people who may be waiting for a Guide Dog or who aren’t suited to having a Guide Dog. If you want to know more about our services please check out our website www. guidedogs.org.uk or why not book one of our speakers to come along to one of your groups.

As with all charities, raising funds is the hardest job but often donating is one of the easiest things to do. Later this year we will be holding a legacy event in Felixstowe where you can find out how easy it is to leave Guide Dogs money in your will. Many people do this already and lots of our puppies are named in memory of a loved one.

How else can you help?
Well if you’re having a clear out at home you can donate items for our Carboot stall in 2023, new items are always welcome to use in raffles and tombola too.

Contact Penny 07742330593
Are you part of an organisation/company who has a “Charity of the year” that you fundraise for? Well we would love to be your charity and we can provide leaflets, collection devices etc and help with banking the money you raise. If you think you are going to raise lots of money we offer
“ name a puppy “ schemes starting at £2500.

Do you run a shop/ business and have somewhere you could stand one of counter or floor standing collection boxes? These will be emptied regularly by our team.

Maybe you’d like to hold an event of your own, maybe you’d like to challenge yourselves to a sponsored event or maybe you’d like to help at one of our events
Whatever you fancy doing we are here to help just get in touch.

Make 2023 the year you made a difference.