Heather started dog training when she got her first dog, a GSD named Ava in 2014. When she got her second GSD, Vlad in 2020, she decided she wanted to train him to be a therapy dog. Vlad mainly attends the big events like Seafront Sundays, PFS Open Day and Christmas Fayres - mostly because he enjoys getting lost of fuss and pats there! As well as joining the training team, Heather also organizes the members social events for the charity.

Sandra was asked to join the charity soon after the start in 2018 as Treasurer, working for Kemp & Company accountants for the past 12 years put her in good steed for dealing with the bookkeeping. She joined and has trained her Cavalier King Charles called Lucy and since being a qualified therapy dog, have been on many visits over the years enjoying the pleasure a visit from a therapy dog can bring. More recently she is now part of the training team helping to teach new members how to get the best from their dogs and preparing them for upcoming visits.

Beki became involved in the world of dog training in 2010, when she got her first family dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Lucy. Her Springer Spaniel Cyan is a qualified therapy dog and they both do visits to offices and events. Beki has been a committee member since the charity began in 2018 and as well as being a testing assessor, Beki also looks after the website and social media platforms for the charity, keeping the community up to date on all the news and events the PFS part take in.

Vicky joined PFS in 2020 with Loki who is a Flatcoated Retriever. Vicky and Loki are part of the PFS School Reading to Dogs Scheme, they go to Amherst Primary once a week and do one to one reading sessions with pupils. She also attends regular nursing home visits where Loki loves getting all the attention. Vicky is part of the training team and is a testing assessor.

Jo has owned dogs since a young age mainly Yorkshire Terriers. Once married she looked for her first family dog being a lovely Border Terrier called and has fallen in love with the breed since.

Jo has competed in obedience and agility competitions with IDTC. Since 2009 she became an assistant trainer and then a trainer. Jo assists with training the disability assistance dogs and also assesses the Level 2 assessments.

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Chris has been part of the charity since very early on, when he joined with his Springer Spaniel called Walt. He was also very helpful with heavy lifting and other bits around the charity during events then more recently has become a trainer and now an active member of the training team and also helps with assessments. Chris has always had dogs and enjoys being part of the charity. 

Kristina joined PFS in 2023 with her beagle Luna. After completing the course she decided to train as a trainer to gain confidence with training Luna and to help others and now a valued part of the training team as well as helping with Luna at visits and events. As someone who is super organised and enjoys socialising Kristina helps the charity with organising social meet up for members.

Rachel and her cocker spaniel Lily are a qualified assistance dog team with Paws for Support. Rachel joined the Paws for Support trainer team in 2023 after several years of working with both Assistance and Therapy dogs in the UK. She also recently became an assessor as well as joining the fundraising committee, and in their spare time she and Lily love to do trick training and agility.

Amanda joined PFS back in 2018 with her dogs Tilly and Ebony and is currently training her puppy Maddie to be a Therapy dog. Over the years Amanda has helped to organise the nursing home visits and enjoys doing regular visits with Ebony, she also helps as an extra pair of hands on some of the training weeks and as a test assessor.

Shari joined Paws for Support to train her dogs to become therapy dogs. One of which is Jack, who is one of two reading dogs attending Amherst School. Each week in term time, she has a small group of children who individually read to Jack. This is where she see the children's confidence grow and how they relate to Jack and enjoy reading to him. Shari has now joined our training team as an assistant trainer to hopefully encourage more people to also have this worthwhile experience.

Bex joined PFS with Uno, her working black Labrador Retriever and they have been part of the schools dog team. Bex takes Uno to Vale and Castel Primary schools on alternative half terms running an emotional awareness programme for selected students. When working, Uno is a very calm and well regulated dog who is able to support the students to develop skills in recognising their own emotions and ways to handle them. Also within the charity, Bex is responsible for liaising with the school contacts to organise the regular visits from the handlers as well as the annual assemblies.