The Kennel Club and The Kennel Club Educational Trust have today announced the closure of the Bark and Read Alliance, after more than a decade of helping children thrive with reading through their connection with dogs.
Since the initiative launched in 2012, canine-assisted reading programmes in the UK have evolved from a small number of dedicated individuals and groups operating independently, which Bark and Read provided direct grant aid for, to larger canine therapy charities joining the initiative who could provide training, assessment frameworks and fundraising support for independent volunteers.
To help unite these individuals and organisations, The Kennel Club developed the Bark and Read Standards of Practice; a shared document that brought together all the experience, insights and values across the initiative partners into a single, practical guide, while also hosting reading sessions on the dedicated stand at Crufts, welcoming volunteers and their dogs to represent their charities.
The initiative has now surpassed the original goal of promoting canine-assisted literacy support in schools, within a framework that benefits both dogs and children, and the decision has been made to step back from this field, to enable these organisations, who are more specialised in this area, to continue to provide these services.
Ciara Farrell, Culture and Heritage Senior Manager at The Kennel Club, said: “We are immensely proud of Bark and Read and what we have achieved, alongside our dedicated partner organisations. This has not been an easy decision but, given the outstanding dedication and commitment of our partners, we’re confident they will not only continue this work, but will help canine-assisted literacy support to thrive.
“On behalf of The Kennel Club, we would like to thank every volunteer and dog who has joined us over the past 13 years. It has been a joyful experience and we have truly valued their support.”
For more details on the Bark and Read Standards of Practice, and for contact details for the partner organisations, please visit thekennelclub.org.uk/barkandread.