Bespoke Services, tailored to your individual needs

Therapy Dog Sessions for Schools

Our school-based Animal Assisted Intervention sessions provide calm, trusted emotional and mental health support for children and young people who may be struggling with anxiety, confidence, regulation, social connection, grief, low mood or school engagement.

Delivered by our trained Hope’s Therapy Dogs team, sessions offer a safe, nurturing space where pupils can talk, reflect, build confidence and develop emotional resilience — supported by the gentle presence of a carefully assessed therapy dog.

We work in partnership with schools to support identified pupils through regular, structured sessions during the school day. Our approach is child-centred, safeguarding-led and grounded in ethical practice, with the wellbeing of both the child and the dog at the heart of every session.

We also help pupils and staff understand safe, respectful interaction with dogs, promoting kindness, empathy, responsibility and animal welfare across the school community.

Sessions are usually delivered weekly in two-hour blocks, providing consistent support for pupils and meaningful impact for schools.

To discuss availability, costs and how Hope’s Therapy Dogs could support your pupils, please contact Ali.

Hope’s Therapy Dogs Assessed Training Course

For individuals who want to understand animal assisted intervention and work towards being assessed as a Hope’s Therapy Dogs therapy dog team.

This course is ideal for dog handlers, therapists, educators, pastoral staff and professionals who want to develop safe, ethical and purposeful dog-assisted practice.

The training covers:

• Animal assisted intervention in education and therapeutic settings

• The role and responsibilities of the handler

• Canine behaviour, body language and stress signals

• Safeguarding, boundaries and ethical practice

• Risk assessment and environmental safety

• Animal welfare and suitability

• Planning meaningful sessions

• Professional communication and conduct

Those wishing to progress further can then undertake a practical assessment with their dog.

School Dogs Training Course

For schools that already have, or are considering introducing, a school dog or wellbeing dog.

This course is ideal for headteachers, senior leaders, SENCOs, pastoral leads, teaching assistants, office teams and designated school dog handlers.

It has been created to help schools avoid the common mistakes that can happen when a dog is introduced without enough planning, training or understanding.

The training covers:

• Whether a school dog is right for your setting

• Dog suitability, welfare and stress

• Safeguarding and pupil safety

• Risk assessments, hygiene and policies

• Staff roles and responsibilities

• Whole-school communication

• Parent and carer confidence

• Day-to-day management of a school dog

• Building a safe, sustainable and genuinely beneficial provision

Alongside our therapeutic services, Ali Colley is available for inspirational speaking at events, conferences, schools, workplaces and community gatherings.

As the Founder and Director of Hope’s Therapy Dogs, Ali shares a powerful and deeply personal message of resilience, hope and purpose. Her story is one of unimaginable loss, courage, faith, determination and the choice to build something meaningful from the hardest of places.

Ali speaks with honesty, warmth and authenticity, helping audiences reflect on their own challenges, reframe adversity and recognise that even the most painful chapters do not have to be the end of the story.

Her talks are ideal for organisations looking for a speaker who can genuinely connect with an audience, move people emotionally and leave them with something lasting. Whether speaking to professionals, school communities, faith groups or wellbeing audiences, Ali brings a message that is heartfelt, relatable and grounded in real-life experience.

Ali can speak on themes including:

Resilience, adversity, grief, hope, purpose, leadership, faith, wellbeing, courage, and creating meaningful impact through life’s challenges.

Available for:

Corporate events, schools, conferences, faith events, wellbeing days, charity events and community gatherings.

To book Ali for your event, please get in touch to discuss your audience, theme and requirements.

Engage and educate your community with our insightful talks tailored for diverse groups such as Scouts, Schools, Youth Groups, and Emergency Services.

Learn how to create environments that prioritise animal welfare, ensuring therapy animals are supported and respected in their roles.

Our talks delve into the background of Therapy Animals, illuminating their role as powerful tools for supporting all individuals in their social, emotional, and mental wellbeing.

Contact Ali to discuss costs and availability.

Our Therapy Dogs can quickly raise well being in the workplace with sessions tailored to fit around your workplace needs. Here are a few quotes from a recent visit to Cobalt Housing in Norris Green:

“Elsa brought a smile to my face and created a calm and supportive environment.”

“the sessions allowed staff to take a short break, reduce stress and enjoy meaningful interaction with the dog.”

Have a look at this wonderful video to see the impact a Therapy Dog can make to your workplace:

Services to the armed forces personel, veterans and their families.