Young Diggers Limited

D7. Describe how your charity's work helped achieve its overall mission and main aims Young Diggers Ltd, through its Dog Squad program, actively contributed to its mission of supporting Veterans and First Responders living with PTSD and associated mental health conditions. Our key activities included: Provision of Assistance Dogs and Training: We provided trained Assistance Dogs and ongoing handler training to Veterans and First Responders, directly supporting their recovery, independence, and quality of life. Home and Hospital Visits: Our volunteers conducted regular home and hospital visits, offering emotional support, counselling, and the provision of essential supplies such as food, hygiene products, and support for assistance dogs during periods of illness or hospitalisation. Emergency Accommodation Support: We sourced emergency accommodation for members facing marriage breakdowns, home disturbances, or crisis situations, ensuring stability and safety during vulnerable times. Support Network Services: We facilitated connection to peer support networks, providing social inclusion, community engagement, and mental health support through structured and informal activities. Dog Welfare Services: We continued to support the welfare of retired and unwell assistance dogs, ensuring that both working and retired dogs received appropriate veterinary care and quality of life support. Promotion of Friendship and Camaraderie: We fostered a strong sense of community and belonging through peer engagement, strengthening resilience among our members and reducing social isolation. Through these activities, we directly advanced our mission of improving the lives of Veterans and First Responders, promoting recovery from trauma, and enhancing mental health and wellbeing.