01962 854971
Become a member

Login
  • About
    • Who we are
    • Team
    • Trustees
  • What we do
    • Guiding and representing you
    • Training and development support
    • Research and engagement expertise
    • Social enterprise expertise
    • Community buildings expertise
    • Policy and information sharing
    • Hampshire Homes Hub – community housing expertise
    • Jobs & Volunteering
    • Room & Desk Hire
    • Projects
  • Case Studies
  • News
    • News, Blogs & Events
  • Contact
  • Become a member

Blogs

Home / News, Blogs & Events / Blogs / Advent Calendar – 22 December: What is your wish this Christmas?

Filter by:

  • What we do
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Information

Advent Calendar – 22 December: What is your wish this Christmas?

Capable Creatures

We are a user-led, non-profit organisation, based in Southampton, set up by people with mental health conditions to empower and enable people with Mental Health conditions to live a fulfilling life, able to access and participate in everyday normal activities, through peer support and the use of dogs.

Lise Marron, Founder, Trustee & Chief Officer of Capable Creatures tells us why she set up the organisation and continues to give her time…

My wish is to help people living with disabling mental health conditions to no longer have to cope alone, no longer feel overwhelmed by anxiety, traumatic memories or suicidal thoughts, no longer remain isolated and lonely, in the same way I no longer do with the support of my ‘Guides for the Mind Assistance’ Dog, Daithí.

That is why I continue to give my time to Capable Creatures, and this Christmas I am asking if you will Donate and give the Gift of a Guides for the Mind Assistance Dog and Hope to people with Disabling Mental Health Conditions, like that which I receive from Daithí?

Following an assault by a gang of youths that resulted in a badly fractured pelvis and damaged vertebrae in my neck, I have been left with life-long disabilities and severe nerve pain. Initially I was petrified about leaving home for fear of being attacked again or people hitting into my right side and aggravating the pain. Then I got Daithí and trained him as my ‘Guides for the Mind Assistance’ Dog and everything changed.

By training Daithí to walk by my right side, he blocks anyone from getting too close, so I no longer feel panic-stricken and totally on edge at the thought that someone might accidentally bump my right side and cause what feels like an electric shock or attack me from behind on my right side like when I was assaulted.

I am able to relax, interact and make meaningful connections with people I meet when out and about.

Daithí is also trained to provide tactile stimulation, where he nudges or paws me to seek my attention when I experience flashbacks to distressing traumatic events or attacks from the ‘Suicide Gremlin’. This helps stop them in their tracks, bring me back to the present and not act upon suicidal thoughts.

Training Daithí and seeing him learn new skills and grow in confidence helped restore a sense of purpose and belief that I can accomplish something even if it was not what I originally planned for my life.

Now I want to give this gift to others with disabling mental health conditions that are preventing them from participating in life.

If you or someone you know living in Southampton with a mental health condition might benefit from training their dog as their ‘Guides for the Mind Emotional Support Assistance’ dog please do not hesitate to contact Lise by email or calling 02380 559163

For more information please visit the Capable Creatures website

Share this page

Author

Published
22.12.18

Contact us

24.05.22
Blogs
Hampshire to get £566,000 funding to tackle loneliness with transport
View Blogs
11.05.22
Blogs
Loneliness and Mental Health
View Blogs
25.04.22
Blogs
10 Stories from the Sector
View Blogs
14.04.22
Blogs
Has Covid ‘devastated’ Hampshire’s VCSE sector? Or has the impact been ‘minimal’?
View Blogs

Newsletter sign up

By signing up to this mailing list you are consenting to receive our bulletin which contains latest news, topics from our online forum and promotes our member of the month. This information is sent out on the 1st and 15th of every month.

  • DD slash MM slash YYYY
  • Pamber parish council were really pleased with the support provided by Action Hampshire’s Rural Housing Enabler helping us through the development process. It was a good experience.

    Chris Goss, Pamber Parish Council
  • Action Hampshire has always been a useful font of information for us at Winchester Churches Nightshelter. Sue has always been really helpful, and I do find the updates from the ‘wider’ world to be of interest.

    Michèle Price, Winchester Churches Nightshelter
  • Having Action Hampshire as a point of reference, support and guidance is invaluable for small to medium sized charities like ourselves. Without them, we would be far less connected and less able to serve our beneficiaries in a meaningful and coordinated way.

    Juno Hollyhock, The Rose Road Association
  • I have found Action Hampshire to be truly innovative and forward thinking in their approach to their work and their passion for the voluntary and community sector is easily measured through their work to help improve the lives of all sections of the community.

    Grant Cornwell, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation
  • Action Hampshire are the most fantastic organisation and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with them. They are very positive and easy to work with, from Rachel’s warmth on the front desk all the way up to Sue’s vast knowledge and experience on the top floor.

    George Scott-Welsh, IncuHive

Become a member

Everything we do at Action Hampshire is in support of our amazing members. Join us today and access a membership package to suit your organisation, tailored to meet your needs and the needs of the people and communities you serve.

Become a member

Sign up to our newsletter

Find out what's happening at Action Hampshire
and how you can get involved

Sign up

Find us

Westgate Chambers
Staple Gardens
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8SR

01962 854971

Get directions

Quick links

  • Membership sign up
  • What we offer
  • Contact us

Site

  • Site map
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use
  • Terms of business for membership

© Copyright 2022 Community Action Hampshire

Community Action Hampshire (trading as Action Hampshire and Action Portsmouth) is registered in England and Wales as a charity (no. 1053806) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 3162873)