How we work

Clients contact us directly or are referred to us by friends or family members or by other support or welfare organisations – human or animal. We work closely with the St Nicholas Hospice Neighbour Scheme and other befriending and community groups.

Once we are briefed about an individual who may need our help, we undertake an assessment, initially by telephone or email, and follow up with a visit if possible.

Working in partnership

This process enables us to find out what is needed and we can then develop a support plan for the individual, working in partnership with other organisations or family members as appropriate:

Family, friends, neighbours
Social care: care providers, housing
Medical care: GP, hospice, district nurses
Advisors, e.g. solicitors
Helplines: CAB, AgeUK, The Silver Line
Mental health, dementia
Befriending schemes, volunteer networks, youth programmes
Veterinary care, allied professionals
Pets as Therapy, Assistance Animals, Cinnamon Trust
Behaviourists, trainers, clubs
Rehoming centres, animal charities, Kennel Club
HCAR research, SCAS, HABRI

The support offered by Our Special Friends includes:

Emotional and practical support, delivered using local trained and supported members of the community and affiliate organisations
Identifying relevant resources and services and signposting them to potential clients, their families and carers
Offering advice on respite care, fostering, rehoming and pre-bereavement planning to help clients make informed and appropriate decisions
Researching and identifying appropriate companion animals, monitoring them and providing follow up support
Dog walking, either directly via our volunteers or via other affiliate organisations
Visiting individuals at home with a volunteer and their dog (this is known as Animal-Assisted Activity).
Offering accompanied walks via our volunteers either with an existing pet or a visiting pet
Looking for ways to reduce essential pet costs, such as veterinary fees
Encouraging the presence and maintenance of wild bird feeders with maximum visibility, easy viewing and regular stocking by volunteers or neighbours

If you think we could help you or someone you know, please contact us.

Contact Our Special Friends

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Phone

01284 247077

07770 855303

Email

info@ourspecialfriends.org

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Our Special Friends
West End House
Upper Green, Higham
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP28 6PA

Our Special Friends is a Registered Charity: 1156778

Our Special Friends is the trading name of Our Special Friends Ltd. (Company Reg. No: 08769892 England and Wales).

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