What started as a simple idea shared at a regional People We Support forum in Wales, has grown into a regular dog walking group enjoyed across services in South East Wales.
The idea came from the people we support, many of whom talked about their love of dogs and how much they would enjoy going dog walking. Lucy, Vocational Manager for South East Wales, said taking this feedback seriously was important. “It was something the people we support had talked about for a while,” she explained. “Making time for what matters to them and turning those ideas into reality is always a priority for us.”
Bringing the idea to life involved careful planning to make sure the experience would be safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for everyone involved. Lucy led on organising the first session. “Planning the group properly was really important,” she said. “We needed to source dogs with the right temperament to work alongside the people we support, put risk assessments in place, think about a quiet walking route, and make sure we had the right people involved.”
The first session went extremely well. Five people we support took part, walking three different dogs along the Taff Trail for around 45 minutes. Everyone enjoyed the experience in their own way. George was relaxed and happy walking alongside Beau, a dachshund, while Phil was especially excited, having wanted to take part for a long time. Others chatted, laughed, and enjoyed spending time outdoors together. Reflecting on the walk, Lucy said, “You could see the pure enjoyment on everyone’s faces. The engagement with the dogs was just brilliant.”
The group has already had a positive impact on wellbeing. Being outdoors, getting active, and spending time with the dogs made the walk feel enjoyable and motivating. Lucy explained that the dogs also helped encourage people who might not usually choose to go for a walk. “Some of the people in the group wouldn’t normally want to go out walking, but having the dogs there really motivated them to get up and out to do something they knew they would enjoy.” As the activity becomes part of a regular routine, it will continue to support confidence, structure, and participation.
For the team, seeing the first session come together was a proud moment. “Achieving positive outcomes for the people we support always gives us a great sense of achievement,” Lucy said. “Everyone was really happy to see this idea become a reality.” One moment from the day captured the impact perfectly, when Phil said with a smile, “All this is because of me, isn’t it? I wanted it and now I’ve got it.”
The success of the dog walking group is also a great example of how the regional People We Support Forums work in practice. These forums give the people we support the opportunity to have their voices heard, share ideas, and make suggestions about activities that matter to them. By listening carefully and working together, those ideas can help shape new opportunities across services and lead to positive changes in everyday life.
Following the success of the first walk, the dog walking group will now take place weekly, giving everyone the chance to continue enjoying time outdoors with the dogs. “This shows what can happen when we really listen and work alongside the people we support,” Lucy added. Teams across South East Wales are looking forward to seeing the group continue to grow- and so are we!
