Veterans With Dogs Honoured at The National Lottery's Big Bash

In a remarkable evening of celebration at London's OVO Arena Wembley, Veterans With Dogs received unexpected recognition during the filming of The National Lottery's Big Bash, aired on ITV1.

 

A Journey of Transformation

Founded in 2012 by former Royal Marine Craig MacLellan, Veterans With Dogs emerged from a profound personal understanding of PTSD and the remarkable impact of canine companionship. After observing how his Labrador had a calming effect on veterans during therapy sessions, Craig developed the UK's first programme specifically designed to train assistance dogs for veterans' mental health needs.

Pioneering Support

Our innovative programme trains assistance dogs to provide personalised support, including medication reminders and panic attack relief. This groundbreaking approach has transformed hundreds of veterans' lives, offering a unique form of support for those dealing with trauma-related challenges.

A Surprise Recognition

The evening took an unexpected turn when renowned broadcaster Clare Balding presented our founder with a special Game Changer award, acknowledging the transformative impact of our assistance dog programme. The presentation included a touching film featuring several of our veterans sharing their personal stories of how their assistance dogs have changed their lives.

National Lottery Support

With vital backing from The National Lottery, we've been able to expand our reach and develop new initiatives. Our latest project, Paws for Support, is broadening the scope of canine-assisted therapies to help even more people across the UK, this time working with military children in schools.

Behind the Scenes

What made this recognition particularly special was the months of secret coordination between our dedicated team, veterans, and the ITV production crew. The Big Bash team travelled to Devon to capture the essence of our work, filming veterans with their assistance dogs and documenting the profound bond that develops through our programme.

A Team Achievement

This recognition reflects the collective dedication of everyone involved with Veterans With Dogs. From our training team and support staff to our trustees, volunteers, and most importantly, our veterans and their assistance dogs - each person plays a vital role in our mission to transform lives.

Looking Forward

As we continue to develop our programme and support more veterans, this platform will help us reach those who might benefit from our services. The recognition at The National Lottery's Big Bash marks not just how far we've come, but the potential for where we can go.

Watch the Show

The National Lottery's Big Bash will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX on New Year's Eve at 5:45 pm. The show features an impressive lineup of performers alongside inspiring stories of community impact and achievement.

We invite our supporters to tune in and share in this celebration of the work we do together to support veterans through the extraordinary power of assistance dogs.