Our team of Dogs Trust Education Officers offer FREE workshops covering a variety of themes, particularly responsible dog ownership and important aspects of safety around dogs, to schools across London, East and West Midlands, Shropshire and Stafforshire, Yorkshire, North East and North West England, Glasgow, South Wales and Northern Ireland. Workshops can be tailor-made to suit your curriculum requirements.
To book a workshop, choose a location from our map to find full contact details for the Education Officer nearest to you, or use the links below to email them directly.
Natalie Dexter - East London
I began working for Dogs Trust when the West London Rehoming Centre opened in March 2006. I’m now based at our Head Office and teach in schools across East London. You may have even spotted me negotiating my way around London in my trademark yellow ‘dogmobile'!
I have three small black Patterdale Terriers who have all retired from school visits but still make the occasional visit to the office. If you’re a teacher who would like your pupils to learn more about dogs, how to stay safe around dogs in the home or local community, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m ready and waiting to go!
Email Natalie
Charlotte Peters - West London
I am passionate about teaching and committed to animal welfare, so I love working for Dogs Trust! I offer a range of fun, interactive and educational workshops FREE to primary schools. Sessions are curriculum linked and can be tailored to suit the needs of your school. Workshop themes include: Responsible Dog Ownership, A Dog’s Needs and Safety Around Dogs.
Schools and groups can become Dog Detectives for the day and learn all about what happens at Dogs Trust with a VIP Tour of our Rehoming Centre! We have our very own Education Barn with AV Facilities, and tour groups will even have the chance to meet one of our furry four-legged residents! So what are you waiting for? Book a school or centre visit today!
Email Charlotte
Anthea Holloway - East Midlands
Being Dogs Trust East Midlands Education Officer is my dream job. It allows me to combine my passion for dogs with my teaching skills. I can even take my best friend to work with me, my Terrier cross Bailey, who is a great classroom assistant.
Prior to joining the Dogs Trust Education Team, I worked as an English Teacher and have volunteered for animal welfare groups all over the world. All of my informative and fun workshops are curriculum linked and they’re a great way to spread the word about Responsible Dog Ownership and Safety Around Dogs.
Email Anthea
Scott Spencer - West Midlands
Hi I’m Scott, the West Midlands Education Officer. Being a qualified primary school teacher, and having had the pleasure of working for Dogs Trust for over two years, I can’t wait to visit your school and help your pupils learn all about dogs.
Working with me is Otis, a brilliant Staffordshire bull terrier, and Dixie, a young and bubbly Jack Russell Terrier. Together we provide free and fun workshops that can focus on any subject you like. So if you think your pupils would love learning all about senses or safety, or if you’re looking for a new way to explore responsibility, or even something as exciting as dogs in space, just let me know!
Email Scott
Alison Donald - Shropshire & Staffordshire
Hello, my name is Alison; I’m the Education Officer for Shropshire and Staffordshire. Before coming to Dogs Trust I spent twenty years working within the childcare sector, supporting children and young people in a variety of settings. I also qualified as an Early Years and Playwork practitioner and have recently become a qualified teacher.
Becoming an Education Officer for Dogs Trust is my dream job; I can incorporate my love of dogs and commitment to animal welfare with my passion for teaching and engaging with young people. By supporting the next generation of dog owners we can help them to understand the responsibilities of owning and caring for a dog.
Email Alison
Donna Sayce - Yorkshire
I was a Canine Carer and Rehomer for Dogs Trust for 5 years before becoming the Education Officer for the Yorkshire region in 2008.
I’m passionate about dogs and love working with children so this role is a perfect way of combining the two. By educating future dog owners about responsible dog ownership we can reduce the numbers of lost and abandoned dogs in the years to come.
My classroom assistants are Dennis and Maisy, two Jack Russell Terriers, both rescue dogs. They are fantastic with children and really bring a unique experience to the workshops! Taking real life dogs to the classroom helps demonstrate Safety Around Dogs, Responsible Dog Ownership and how to keep dogs Happy and Healthy. The children get the opportunity to safely interact with the dogs and even teach them a few tricks!
Email Donna
Louise Close - North East England
I am passionate about dog welfare and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to deliver workshops on responsible dog ownership and safety around dogs to schools in the North East region. I also offer school tours around the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in Darlington. I speak to over 10,000 children and visit over 100 schools in a year!
As a qualified teacher I understand the need for sessions to be informative yet fun and be appealing to all learning styles. If requested my own Dogs Trust dog accompanies me for a more ‘hands on’ approach! I offer a programme of workshops enabling more than one visit, encompassing different topics and themes which work well with animal projects and pet weeks!
Email Louise
Angela Madigan - North West England
I started working for Dogs Trust in 1999. Initially I was a Canine Carer at the Merseyside Rehoming Centre, which gave me valuable first-hand experience of life at a rehoming centre. I am qualified in Animal Care and as a Teaching Assistant, so working as an Education Officer is a fantastic way to combine both my skills.
Animal welfare is always at the forefront of my mind. Helping spread the message of Responsible Dog Ownership is a great way of sharing my enthusiasm. Dogs are my passion – owning them means you have to be passionate about them! I am regularly assisted in workshops by my loveable Pug, Sebastian.
Email Angela
Alison Russell - Glasgow
Hello there! I’m Alison and this is my gorgeous Collie Cross puppy, Alfie. We’re based at Dogs Trust Glasgow and deliver Education workshops all over Scotland. I am a fully qualified teacher and began working for Dogs Trust in June 2011. I am absolutely thrilled to be here as I get to combine my love of teaching with my passion for dogs!
My exciting and interactive workshops are full of activities that are great fun for pupils of all ages and abilities. I teach Responsible Dog Ownership, Healthy Happy Dogs and Safety Around Dogs, and can link the workshops to the Curriculum for Excellence. Many schools incorporate my visits into their Enterprise, Health Promoting, Citizenship and Eco Schools work. I can also tailor workshops to suit your group or class.
Alfie is a wonderful classroom assistant and just loves all the cuddles and attention he receives at workshops. We love visiting groups together and always make sure that our workshops are informative but lots of fun too!
Email Alison
Lynne Jones - South Wales
(Monday – Wednesday)
I am a qualified Teacher with a PGCE in Primary Education. Working for Dogs Trust gives me the opportunity to combine my passion for dogs with a career in Primary Education. My workshops are always fun, interactive and informative, and are supported by curriculum linked classroom resources, which help the children remember positive canine messages.
I am the proud owner of Bonnie, who is excellent with children and a great ambassador for rehoming a dog from Dogs Trust. I am delighted to be combining working for the UK's largest dog welfare charity with educating children in South Wales about responsible dog ownership.
Email Lynne
Jael Jones - South Wales
(Thursday – Friday)
Hi, I'm Jael and after 16 years of teaching I am now an Education Officer for Dogs Trust in Wales. I love this role as it combines my love of teaching with my other passion; dogs and dog welfare. I thoroughly enjoy delivering the Dogs Trust messages of Responsible Dog Ownership and Safety Around Dogs to the dog owners of the future. As a qualified teacher my programme of workshops is not only informative but also fun and highly interactive, appealing to all ages and abilities.
I am assisted in workshops by my little pug Harry who gives the pupils a truly unique learning experience. We both look forward to meeting you at one of our workshops very soon!
Email Jael
Cathy Clyde - Northern Ireland
Hi, my name is Cathy and I have been the Dogs Trust Education Officer here in Northern Ireland since 2004.
Prior to taking up my post with Dogs Trust I was an English teacher, so I have combined my teaching skills with my love of all things canine. I have travelled all over N.I. visiting schools and youth groups, working with children and young adults, plus making some great friends along the way! Helping me with my workshops is Jed, my Border Collie, who is a real show off and loves to entertain with his tricks!
I also offer Rehoming Centre tours, and during the holiday periods I organise events and activity days for young and old alike!
Email Cathy