Schools/Colleges Programme

Transition Year (TY) Programme

At Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, we believe the students who participate in our Transition Year (TY) Programme are potential future members of our community of Staff, Puppy Raisers, Temporary Boarders and Community Volunteers.

With this in mind, we have developed an interactive programme which aims to inspire students to consider a career with us or to support our work raising awareness and funds so they too can make a difference to others and change lives!

At the end of the week, each student will have a greater understanding of:

• the welfare of our dogs and what that entails;

• the services and support we provide to our Clients;

• the Technical training and what that involves;

• the structure, governance, funding and running of a charity; and

• how to undertake a fundraising event.

Programme Schedule

Day 1 – Dogs

Meet our Dog Care and Welfare team who manage the care of our training dogs and look after all dogs onsite in our Training Centre kennels.

Find out about our Volunteers who care for our pups in the first weeks of their lives.

Day 2 – Clients

Hear from our Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners as they explain how their lives have changed since receiving their dog.

Day 3 – Training

How does a Guide Dog keep their owner safe from cars, walking on to a road or walking into people or objects? Our trainers will explain how they train our dogs, how they decide which dogs will make the grade, and critically how they match the right dog to the right person to give each partnership the best chance of success.

Day 4 – Resources

It costs over €5 million to run our organisation each year and 85% is dependent on the generosity of the public.

Our Fundraising team will explain how they work with our network of nationwide Branches to raise awareness and fundraise through various events and activities.

Day 5 – Visit our Training Centre

At the end of the week we would be delighted to welcome each TY class to visit our Training Centre in Cork. There you will meet our team and plenty of dogs and get hands on experience of the work we do. This will also give us an opportunity to award certificates for completion of our TY Programme.

Dates for 2025 TY Programme are:

• 1st week - 20th January to 24th January 2025

• 2nd week - 27th January to 31st January 2025

Sign up

To sign up for our 2025 TY Programme please download the application form here and email to AllisonHegarty@GuideDogs.ie. Applications must only be submitted by TY Co-ordinators/Teachers.