VETERANS WITH DOGS Small Charity of the Year
Winner – Third Sector Awards 2025
This prestigious national honour celebrates a charity or voluntary sector organisation that has truly excelled in its field. With so many remarkable organisations shortlisted from across the UK (see award categories), it's a humbling achievement—and a powerful testament to the passion and commitment of our team, trustees, volunteers, supporters, and the veterans and assistance dogs who inspire our mission every day.
What this award means
- Pioneering the pairing and professional training of mental health assistance dogs through our PALS Programme.
- Exemplary standards & welfare owing to the dedication of our staff and trainers.
- Resilience throughout our veteran community, whose honesty and courage set the tone for all we do.
- Unwavering support from donors and grant makers—without whom true impact wouldn’t be possible.
A landmark moment for Veterans With Dogs
Our journey from humble beginnings to a respected leader in the assistance dog sector has been nothing short of extraordinary. This award shines a rare light on our mission—and the real impact our PALS-trained assistance dogs deliver for veterans facing the invisible wounds of mental health difficulty.
This recognition isn’t a conclusion, but the start of a new chapter. We’ll go further: serving more veterans, training more assistance dogs, and making real change in the sector—together.
Thank you for making this possible
This recognition is for all: supporters, volunteers, partners, and the veterans and assistance dogs at the heart of our community. See this year’s winners and read about the impact of the awards on the official Third Sector Awards list.
With your ongoing commitment, we’ll ensure no veteran faces mental health challenges alone—and that our assistance dog partnerships set the gold standard for excellence and inclusion. Why these awards matter.
