The Community Foundation offers a tax-efficient vehicle for local giving, setting up named funds which operate like personal charitable trusts, at far less cost than a stand-alone charity. The Neil Murphy Animal Welfare Fund is one of these funds.
The Neil Murphy Animal Welfare Fund has worked for a number of years to support animal welfare projects in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and was set up by Helen Murphy in memory of her late husband, Neil.
This year the fund will give £5,000 to Canine Partners, a charity who works to train puppies to become assistance dogs for disabled people. The £5,000 will be used to train puppy Murphy, a male yellow Labrador born on the 3rd June this year, to transform the life of someone with a disability.
Assistance dogs enable disabled people to enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life. They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and closing doors, picking up dropped items, loading and unloading the washing machine, pressing buttons, dressing and undressing and getting help in an emergency. They also provide companionship, security, routine and a reason to get up in the morning.
Puppy Murphy will be trained by one of Canine Partners’ volunteer puppy parents until he is around 16 months old. After this period he will move on to a training centre to be assessed, learn the more advanced tasks and be partnered with someone with a disability on Canine Partners’ waiting list.
Helen Murphy said:
‘Murphy is gorgeous and it’s nice to see him wearing his working vest already. I have the photograph pinned up in the kitchen.
My two daughters and families are delighted too, particularly the older grandchildren who have a black 2 year old male Labrador who gets into unbelievable scrapes. I am sure Neil would undoubtedly approve of what we are doing.’
Good luck to puppy Murphy with his training! We’re sure he’ll be top of the class.
If you would like to set up your own fund that works to support charities and groups in the local community, contact Katy Green, Chief Executive at Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation: katy.green@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk & 0116 2624 804.
