Pawsitive Squad CICEnabling independence, therapy and learning |
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Meet the team
Heather (Founder & CEO)
Heather founded Pawsitive Squad in 2018 after experiencing firsthand the difference an assistance dog can make to the lives of disabled people and their families. As a disabled person and parent of two disabled children, one of whom has complex medical and learning needs, Heather understands many of the challenges families face when navigating daily life, education, healthcare, and community access. Her family has worked alongside assistance dogs for more than a decade, giving her a deep understanding of both the benefits and responsibilities that come with having an assistance dog and the life-changing impact they can have. Alongside her lived experience, Heather has built a strong academic and professional background that supports her work. She holds a Postgraduate Microcredential in Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning from The Open University, a BSc (Hons) Open Degree with a 2:1, a Diploma of Higher Education in Equine Psychology and Sports Science, a Level 5 Dog Behaviour Practitioner Diploma, and has also completed the IPSEA Level 3 Advanced SEND Law Course. As part of her degree studies, Heather completed modules covering mental health, counselling, and research involving children and young people. These subjects continue to influence her approach to supporting families and help her understand the wider challenges faced by those who rely on assistance dogs. As Co-Director and Lead Trainer, Heather oversees training programmes, assessments, and learner support across the organisation. She is passionate about helping handlers build strong partnerships with their dogs and supporting families to achieve greater confidence, independence, and participation in everyday life. |
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Beka (Director in charge of canine assessments)
My name is Beka, and I am a volunteer for Pawsitive Squad. I joined Pawsitive Squad in 2020 to train River, my standard poodle, to be my assistance dog and help me with going out more and becoming more confident with her by my side. She helps me with my autism and anxiety by doing certain assistive tasks for me; I put lots of hard work into training her with the help of pawsitive squad and had her fully trained within a year. I’ve always loved animals and really enjoyed training River and gaining knowledge through learning new techniques. I love training and working with dogs and wanted to help out people going through the same training I have. When I told Heather I had a Level 3 qualification in animal management at college and work experience with animals & people with additional needs, she kindly let me volunteer to help. As part of my role, I help with the face-to-face workshops and assessments, demonstrating, assessing, and offering general support. I still struggle in social situations and talking sometimes, but I have become more confident since joining Pawsitive Squad. Most of the time I will have a personal assistant with me to support me and have River to help me out too. |
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James - Personal assistant & demonstrator
James is a new member of the team at Pawsitive, although he has been connected to the organisation through his family for several years. This background has given him a strong understanding of the charity’s work and the day-to-day realities of supporting dogs and families. He works as a Personal Assistant and Demonstrator during training days and practical workshops. A key part of his Personal Assistant role will involve caring for the children of staff members while assessments and training sessions are taking place, helping to ensure they are safe, comfortable, and engaged while structured activities are delivered. Alongside this, James will also support hands-on workshop sessions, helping learners build practical skills through real-life scenarios and assisting handlers in developing confidence and consistency with their dogs. On occasion, and where appropriate, James will work directly with Levi, his family’s dual-trained assistance dog, during demonstrations. While handling Levi, he will help showcase training techniques, communication methods, and everyday handling skills that are used throughout the programme. Alongside his work with Pawsitive, James is studying Microbiology and Immunology at university, combining his academic interests in science and healthcare with his practical experience in animal-assisted work. |
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Sophia - Bronze Award Mentor
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Amy - Silver + Award Mentor
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©copyright 2018-2026 Pawsitive Squad CIC. All rights Reserved. Pawsitive Squad is a registered community interest company (non profit organisation) number 1145 1119 (England and Wales) | enquiries@pawsitivesquad.co.uk |
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