Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. We’ve committed to a series of autumn running challenges (including Mencap 10k, Cardiff Half Marathon, and the Saundersfoot Triathlon) to raise money for our in-house charity, The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation and one of our partners Mencap Cymru.

We set up the BPN Foundation in 2009 to improve the lives of people and pets in the local community and beyond. You can learn more about our work here.

https://burnspet.co.uk/an-introduction-to-burns-in-the-community.html

Today, we provide complimentary food to over 53 rescue centres across the UK, organise animal fundraising events up and down the country and run a Charity of the Year programme providing outstanding welfare organisations with a year’s supply of funding, pet food and PR opportunities. Our current charity’s of the year are Forever Hounds Trust, Dogs for the Disabled and UK-GSR.

We’re also making great progress running new and existing grassroots projects and have a team of 6 full-time staff members (plus countless volunteers) who run and support the charity.

One such project is Burns By Your Side – a reading-to-dogs scheme which uses trained volunteers and companion dogs to help children improve their literacy, communication and confidence skills. Research has shown that reading to a dog can reduce stress levels, increase relaxation and create an environment where children feel empowered and confident. A dog is a compassionate listener and doesn’t judge.

At the time of writing, Burns By Your Side is active in over 50 educational settings and we have over 50 volunteers based in West Wales, Ceredigion, Swansea and Carmarthenshire. In the first half of 2018 alone, we delivered 880 reading sessions to thousands of children. We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from teachers and parents regarding the scheme and earlier this year, an impact study was published by The University of Wales Trinity Saint David on the positive effects of reading to dogs.

Another project, The Better Tomorrow Programme enhances the lives of disadvantaged people by offering practical skills-based training in recreational settings. Last year, the programme helped 130 young people to gain employability and life skills via work experience at the company’s factory, head office, market gardens, shops and warehouse.

Some of the participants involved in The Better Tomorrow Programme have suffered profound brain injuries and found a new lease of life through the programme.

In addition to raising money for the foundation, we’ll be donating some of the proceeds to Mencap Cymru who are the voice of learning disabilities in Wales. Visit www.mencap.org.uk for more information on the great work they do throughout the UK

With your donation, we’ll be able to reach even more people and pets across the UK. Be it a pound or ten, we’re incredibly grateful for any donations we receive.

Collectively, we can make a big difference.