Overdue: 459 days
Public benefits
Public benefit: Number 1 The direct benefits which flow from purpose 1 include the following: People with uncontrolled epilepsy: Ownership of a trained dog that will assist them during and after a seizure, with the possibility of the same dog becoming an ‘alerting’ dog, which will give warning pre-seizure and allow the user to prevent injury.
People with diabetes: Ownership of a trained dog that will alert the user to low blood sugar levels allowing the user to prevent hypoglycaemia. People with nut allergies: Ownership of a trained dog that will alert the user to the presence of nuts in the environment allowing them to avoid an allergic reaction. People who use wheelchairs: Ownership of a dog that will assist in day to day activities e.g. opening doors, retrieve dropped items etc resulting in a more independent lifestyle for the user. All end users and their families will benefit from users regaining control over their lives and increased independence and self esteem. NHS: The NHS can also benefit from a reduction in hospital admissions due to conditions being better controlled. These benefits will be evidenced through each dog qualifying as a full assistance dog. Regular feedback from users, at least once a year, will ensure each dog remains fully effective. Users will be required to contact the senior dog trainer, as needs arise, and at least once a year, to ensure consistency in standards. Is any harm or possibility of harm outweighed by the benefit? No The charity’s beneficiaries are people living in Northern Ireland, who are diagnosed with diabetes, epilepsy, nut allergies, wheelchair users and their families. Number 2 The direct benefits which flow from purpose 2 include the following: Identification of biomarkers could lead to the development of a wearable device that will allow people who suffer from uncontrolled epilepsy, to be alerted to the onset of a seizure, allowing them to place themselves in a safe position, in order to prevent injury. Additionally, to facilitate and make more reliable, the training of epileptic seizure alert dogs. These benefits will be evidenced through monitoring injuries and hospital admissions , arising from uncontrolled seizures, in the periods before using the device or the dog, and afterwards. There is no identifiable harm. The charity’s beneficiaries are people with uncontrolled epilepsy and their families. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is the commercialisation of a new technology and this is incidental and outweighed by the benefit to the beneficiaries. Private Benefit: Who Gains: In the event that the research is successful, and a wearable device can be developed, a commercial company will have to be involved in the production and sale of said device. This is necessary, reasonable and justifiable. How? The company will gain financially should this device be successfully developed. No private benefit to a trustee.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
We provide training to people who have certain disabilities and who are dog owners, to develop the potential of their dogs to assist them with their disability. The disabilities include the following: Epilepsy, Diabetes, Nut Allergy and Wheelchair users. We also conduct research to search for the evidence of the innate response to some family pet
dogs to epileptic seizure onset. Additionally, to determine the bio-markers which trigger the alerting response in dogs for people with uncontrolled epilepsy. This research is being carried out by our senior dog trainer, in conjunction with Queens University Belfast.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Physical disabilities
How the charity works
- Education/training
- Research/evaluation
