About Us
"MuttsnMischief, bringing the Skegness Community together through K9s and kindness" ~ Mission Statement
Many people have asked me why I want to start up a Doggy Daycare for the Elderly and Disabled. Why I want to do it as a Social enterprise and not for profit. So here's the answer... I have not had an easy life, I had a difficult childhood. Dogs were my world. I was an odd ball at school and I gravitated towards other odd balls. I stuck up for other odd balls. My best friend at school was disabled. I myself had learning difficulties which were not identified until college. Dogs were what made me happy and offered security for me. And this applies to so many of us. Dogs are our family.
I walked Dogs for the Elderly and people who needed a break. I ended up in dead end jobs whilst always studying some sort of course part time. And always found myself outside of work; working with Dogs and Horses.
It reached breaking point when I ended up working at Seabreezes Care Home. I had never seen such misery and loneliness. I was promoted to Activity Coordinator and managed to get Rescues and Dog organisations to come into the home to let the Service Users fuss the Dogs. They lit up. So many of them lost their Dogs when their health failed them. Again outside of work I trained people's Dogs for them.
My job choose me. In the end I gave into it and couldn't be happier. But in my job I have met so many people who are sad and struggling. Such as Laurie who lost his wife and dog months apart. Laurie went and rescued a Dog. I trained Yogi. Laurie got very poorly and rang me crying one day. I went straight over and his legs had ulcerated. He refused to go to hospital until Yogi was safe. Many of you may remember me trying to rehome him and I did. Laurie was the tipping point.
I had to do something to help the Laurie's of this world. I want to bring the Skegness community together. I want to offer somewhere where people can enjoy Dogs if they can not have them through age and ailments. A safe indoor area to bring their Dog, where they do not feel other people on the street will be judging them. I want to offer work experience to youngsters. I want to help other Community projects in Skegness.
I also want to help people who suffer with Mental Health. Mental Health is still something not fully understood and people are not as aware of it as other visible conditions. I want to help people either through the opportunity to work or the opportunity to use the Daycare and help local projects who raise awareness about Mental Health. To help people with Mental Health issues to keep their Dogs too. Long term I would like to work with Charities and Landlords to raise an awareness that someones Dog really can be their lifeline. We see this in America all the time with Therapy Dogs, where it is not yet really accepted over here and alot of Landlords who advertise state "No Pets." People with Mental Health issues should be entitled to the same level of housing opportunities as anyone else and not scrutinised because they need their Dog with them. I know alot about this as I was diagnosed with Anxiety 2 years ago and up until that point did not know what was wrong with me. I had a very early diagnosis of Depression but the symptoms did not match up. It was only 2 years ago I was diagnosed properly. Animals have always had a huge impact on my life and my emotional well being the same as many other people with mental Health issues, across all age groups. I also know the difficulties in Renting and not being able to access many housing options due to having a Dog. I would like to see this change and if it can be successful in starting in Skegness I really hope we can see a ripple effect acrosss the UK.
Charity's only normally help their own project. As a Social Enterprise I can help whoever I want. The money is not limited to the Doggy Daycare. So we will not be sat on a pile of money dead in the water which when we are up and running we may not need to use. So we can help community projects. This is why we are not are not a Charity and won't be. I want the freedom and approval from the Government to help others as we see fit. I have a committee in place which help me run things and we are required to have one by law. So this is why I am doing it and this is what we are all about on top of this we are adding an all year round indoor and outdoor field where owners can bring their Dog to use on their own or to use it as a normal field but with the bonus of safety, no escape routes, no more worries about traffic, other Dogs (if an issue), or even the weather as well as an on site cage to be run by volunteers.
5 year plan; to let the Daycare be run and managed by students and the committee and set up my own Dog rescue this time as a Charity. Specifically helping difficult and misunderstood Dogs.
I have worked in jobs where I have felt belittled and afraid to go into work, I have been bullied in the workplace and worked in less than savoury conditions. I don't believe that anyone this day in age should be afraid to go into work or become so ill through work that they have no choice but to resign or end up being forced to have a sick note from the GP for the sanity of the individuals mental health.
I want MuttsnMischief to be the place where people can come and gain work experience and work skills, in a safe and friendly environment. Whilst not only learning about work ethics but also learning about how workplaces should run, the Policies and Procedures in place to protect them, the places they can go to if they are struggling in work or feel afraid of work. I don't want to just offer work experience to people to put it on their CV and promise of a reference. I want them to feel empowered knowing wherever they end up being employed, that they know their Employment rights and can feel safe in the workplace.
Some may see this statement as Political, but it really isn't, it's real life. The Goverment have recoreded through Health and Safety in the workplace in 2015/2016 that 448,000 had to take time from work for depression, anixiety and stress in the workplace. In their surveys they found that the causes for this included violence and bullying in the workplace, as well as lack of support, role uncertainity and workloads.
I would like to see the people they we help with employment opportunities, be it volunatry, work experience or on the pay roll, that every person can come away and say "I really enjoyed my day, I feel safe and I feel I can talk to my Employer about how I am getting on."
How far we have come...
Some people may find it a little odd, why I am fundraising for MuttsnMischief. Whats that all about? Well as a Social Enterprise we are not for profit, so it is not as easy to go to the bank and say "Hi, here is my business idea, can I have a loan?" A Social Enterprise is seen as a risk.
So when I first had this mad idea, I had secured some land in Orby, I had measured all of this land, drawn up blue prints, applied to the Coastal Fund through the Council (and even got as far as one to one meeting). I was attending Princes Trust Workshops and mentoring for a loan from the Princes Trust, then one day I got a phone call to say the land had fell through and it would not be possible to continue on this particualr site. So on this site, costs would have been very little and mostly be looking at alterations and equipment.
So I could have given up... But I didn't I picked myself up dusted myself off and went back to the drawing board. Much to the confusion of many and admiration of others. Melody Hossaini (Founder of InspireEngage Ltd) was my inspiration. I had attended a workshop at Boston College where Melody was hosting it, she told us alot about what she had been through to get to where she was (as well as the Apprentice with Lord Sugar) and the work that she is now doing. I also met alot of other people like minded like myself, with an idea, a business plan and some sort of story of struggles and failings.
So off I went and with my new found information, set up a Bank account, formed a Committee, allocated roles and here we are. I believe in this Town and see the potential. I know people and have met so many people from different backgrounds with their own struggles, trying to get through one day at a time and the key link between us is the Dogs, this is the main way I meet people and learn about their stories. There is a need for MuttsnMischief in Skegness and I believe other towns as well, but thats later on down the line. For now I firmly believe as many others do also now too, that MuttsnMischief, will bring this town together and will see an eruption of local support services over the next five years, by working with like minded people to support the locals of this Town.
SO WHAT PROJECTS CAN WE HELP WITH?
We can help from our profits to do things such as...
A Dementia Sensory Garden, sadly Dementia affects too many of us whether it be within the family or the individual.
A sensory Garden or Area, for Autistic kids and kids with Sensory needs.
Helping Skegness Hospital with life saving equipment, or a new ward etc...
Building Playgrounds for Kids.
Supporting new and ongoing projects in Skegness which will help the Community as a whole.
Employment and Work experiences.
Help with setting up support groups for Single Parents, people who have had a bad time, people with Depression and Mental Health Issues, people who have escaped or are coping with Domestic Abuse.
THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A DOGGY DAYCARE. WE CAN DO ENDLESS THINGS LOCALLY FOR THE SKEGNESS COMMUNITY!!!
I walked Dogs for the Elderly and people who needed a break. I ended up in dead end jobs whilst always studying some sort of course part time. And always found myself outside of work; working with Dogs and Horses.
It reached breaking point when I ended up working at Seabreezes Care Home. I had never seen such misery and loneliness. I was promoted to Activity Coordinator and managed to get Rescues and Dog organisations to come into the home to let the Service Users fuss the Dogs. They lit up. So many of them lost their Dogs when their health failed them. Again outside of work I trained people's Dogs for them.
My job choose me. In the end I gave into it and couldn't be happier. But in my job I have met so many people who are sad and struggling. Such as Laurie who lost his wife and dog months apart. Laurie went and rescued a Dog. I trained Yogi. Laurie got very poorly and rang me crying one day. I went straight over and his legs had ulcerated. He refused to go to hospital until Yogi was safe. Many of you may remember me trying to rehome him and I did. Laurie was the tipping point.
I had to do something to help the Laurie's of this world. I want to bring the Skegness community together. I want to offer somewhere where people can enjoy Dogs if they can not have them through age and ailments. A safe indoor area to bring their Dog, where they do not feel other people on the street will be judging them. I want to offer work experience to youngsters. I want to help other Community projects in Skegness.
I also want to help people who suffer with Mental Health. Mental Health is still something not fully understood and people are not as aware of it as other visible conditions. I want to help people either through the opportunity to work or the opportunity to use the Daycare and help local projects who raise awareness about Mental Health. To help people with Mental Health issues to keep their Dogs too. Long term I would like to work with Charities and Landlords to raise an awareness that someones Dog really can be their lifeline. We see this in America all the time with Therapy Dogs, where it is not yet really accepted over here and alot of Landlords who advertise state "No Pets." People with Mental Health issues should be entitled to the same level of housing opportunities as anyone else and not scrutinised because they need their Dog with them. I know alot about this as I was diagnosed with Anxiety 2 years ago and up until that point did not know what was wrong with me. I had a very early diagnosis of Depression but the symptoms did not match up. It was only 2 years ago I was diagnosed properly. Animals have always had a huge impact on my life and my emotional well being the same as many other people with mental Health issues, across all age groups. I also know the difficulties in Renting and not being able to access many housing options due to having a Dog. I would like to see this change and if it can be successful in starting in Skegness I really hope we can see a ripple effect acrosss the UK.
Charity's only normally help their own project. As a Social Enterprise I can help whoever I want. The money is not limited to the Doggy Daycare. So we will not be sat on a pile of money dead in the water which when we are up and running we may not need to use. So we can help community projects. This is why we are not are not a Charity and won't be. I want the freedom and approval from the Government to help others as we see fit. I have a committee in place which help me run things and we are required to have one by law. So this is why I am doing it and this is what we are all about on top of this we are adding an all year round indoor and outdoor field where owners can bring their Dog to use on their own or to use it as a normal field but with the bonus of safety, no escape routes, no more worries about traffic, other Dogs (if an issue), or even the weather as well as an on site cage to be run by volunteers.
5 year plan; to let the Daycare be run and managed by students and the committee and set up my own Dog rescue this time as a Charity. Specifically helping difficult and misunderstood Dogs.
I have worked in jobs where I have felt belittled and afraid to go into work, I have been bullied in the workplace and worked in less than savoury conditions. I don't believe that anyone this day in age should be afraid to go into work or become so ill through work that they have no choice but to resign or end up being forced to have a sick note from the GP for the sanity of the individuals mental health.
I want MuttsnMischief to be the place where people can come and gain work experience and work skills, in a safe and friendly environment. Whilst not only learning about work ethics but also learning about how workplaces should run, the Policies and Procedures in place to protect them, the places they can go to if they are struggling in work or feel afraid of work. I don't want to just offer work experience to people to put it on their CV and promise of a reference. I want them to feel empowered knowing wherever they end up being employed, that they know their Employment rights and can feel safe in the workplace.
Some may see this statement as Political, but it really isn't, it's real life. The Goverment have recoreded through Health and Safety in the workplace in 2015/2016 that 448,000 had to take time from work for depression, anixiety and stress in the workplace. In their surveys they found that the causes for this included violence and bullying in the workplace, as well as lack of support, role uncertainity and workloads.
I would like to see the people they we help with employment opportunities, be it volunatry, work experience or on the pay roll, that every person can come away and say "I really enjoyed my day, I feel safe and I feel I can talk to my Employer about how I am getting on."
How far we have come...
Some people may find it a little odd, why I am fundraising for MuttsnMischief. Whats that all about? Well as a Social Enterprise we are not for profit, so it is not as easy to go to the bank and say "Hi, here is my business idea, can I have a loan?" A Social Enterprise is seen as a risk.
So when I first had this mad idea, I had secured some land in Orby, I had measured all of this land, drawn up blue prints, applied to the Coastal Fund through the Council (and even got as far as one to one meeting). I was attending Princes Trust Workshops and mentoring for a loan from the Princes Trust, then one day I got a phone call to say the land had fell through and it would not be possible to continue on this particualr site. So on this site, costs would have been very little and mostly be looking at alterations and equipment.
So I could have given up... But I didn't I picked myself up dusted myself off and went back to the drawing board. Much to the confusion of many and admiration of others. Melody Hossaini (Founder of InspireEngage Ltd) was my inspiration. I had attended a workshop at Boston College where Melody was hosting it, she told us alot about what she had been through to get to where she was (as well as the Apprentice with Lord Sugar) and the work that she is now doing. I also met alot of other people like minded like myself, with an idea, a business plan and some sort of story of struggles and failings.
So off I went and with my new found information, set up a Bank account, formed a Committee, allocated roles and here we are. I believe in this Town and see the potential. I know people and have met so many people from different backgrounds with their own struggles, trying to get through one day at a time and the key link between us is the Dogs, this is the main way I meet people and learn about their stories. There is a need for MuttsnMischief in Skegness and I believe other towns as well, but thats later on down the line. For now I firmly believe as many others do also now too, that MuttsnMischief, will bring this town together and will see an eruption of local support services over the next five years, by working with like minded people to support the locals of this Town.
SO WHAT PROJECTS CAN WE HELP WITH?
We can help from our profits to do things such as...
A Dementia Sensory Garden, sadly Dementia affects too many of us whether it be within the family or the individual.
A sensory Garden or Area, for Autistic kids and kids with Sensory needs.
Helping Skegness Hospital with life saving equipment, or a new ward etc...
Building Playgrounds for Kids.
Supporting new and ongoing projects in Skegness which will help the Community as a whole.
Employment and Work experiences.
Help with setting up support groups for Single Parents, people who have had a bad time, people with Depression and Mental Health Issues, people who have escaped or are coping with Domestic Abuse.
THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A DOGGY DAYCARE. WE CAN DO ENDLESS THINGS LOCALLY FOR THE SKEGNESS COMMUNITY!!!