Clever Crafter
Make snuffle mats and ragger toys for our puppies and dogs. They love them! Or perhaps use your handicraft skills to fashion cheerful bunting from scrap material (for events and for sale). Unsure what to do? Check out what our clever crafters have been up to below for inspiration...
Snuffle Mats
We are looking for crafty microvolunteers to make our pups some snuffle mats! Snuffle mats offer great enrichment opportunities for our dogs as they can exercise their bodies and minds whilst sniffing out their food. Previous snuffle mat makers have said it's a nice mindfulness activity to do on a rainy day or perhaps whilst watching TV.
What better way to use up fabric remnants or clean clothes that no longer fit! Please find a helpful 'how to make' tutorial by clicking on the button below.
Finished snuffle mats will need to be dropped off or posted to either The Grange (Buckinghamshire) or Beatrice Wright Centre (East Yorkshire) please.
Puppy Raggers
Did you know that when our 8 week old puppies go off to their new homes to be trained by a volunteer puppy trainer, they take a suitcase (poetic licence, it's a nice box!) with them with everything they need to get started like a lead, a whistle, toys and things to chew on.
Inside each 'suitcase' is also a lovingly made ragger. Our puppies love them! Miniature Poodle puppy Nancy - pictured on the far right - would just like to say that they need to be made to a high standard, with clean new fleece material please.
If you would like to make one or some for future Hearing Dogs puppies to play with, the tutorial below will show you how to make the type of raggers our pups like best.
“I enjoyed making the raggers and hearing dog Albert did a great job of supervision until he dozed off! The felt was easy to find, not too expensive and then I only needed a pen, ruler and scissors. I would highly recommend this microvolunteering activity to anyone who likes crafty things to do!” Sarah Bond
Handmade Bunting
Making bunting is another fabulous thing to do as a microvolunteer!
We usually look for 5 metre lengths of bunting, with whatever flag size and fabric you have to hand but don't let us curtail your creativity! One of our volunteers recommended that using clean bedlinen is a cost effective way of recycling or buying big pieces of lovely fabric.
Stella Hewett, pictured, made her wonderfully cheery bunting during lockdown in 2020 whilst she waited to be placed with her hearing dog Josie. She said it was a worthwhile way to pass the time, and is delighted that her colourful bunting will either be used decoratively or sold to help fundraise at events.
You can post your craftwork to The Volunteering Department, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9NS.
This activity may count towards your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Volunteering section, please check with your DofE Leader for applicability before going ahead.
Let us know what you've been up to!
Every bit of microvolunteering helps deaf people leave loneliness behind and reconnect with life, so do shout about what you've been doing on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and get our attention @HearingDogs and @VolTeamHDogs.
You can download, print or share this certificate. Take a selfie or post a photo. Whatever way you want to tell or show us how you've microvolunteered is a good way!
Remember to use the hashtag #TeamBurgundy and we'll repost the best examples of microvolunteering in action.