By Ash Robertson
It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself as the new Learning and Education Coordinator for ADUK. I’m really excited to work with each member organisation and explore opportunities for new prospects in learning and education. Prior to this role, I’ve worked with several charity organisations and within the education sector, most recently as Study Programme Manager in Animal Care and Equine Studies, and previously as Welfare Advisor.  

Outside of work, I regularly enjoy camping trips to Cornwall and North Devon to surf, however most of my time is taken up looking after my animals; rescue spaniel Skye, Pip the cat and horses Ron and Lemmi!

My love for animals has deepened my commitment to ensuring high welfare standards and supporting education initiatives. My main goal is to offer a supportive and enriching learning environment for all of you, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me for any inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities! 

My key points of focus include:  

Maximising use of the Charity Learning Consortium: This involves tailoring the platform to your specific learning and development needs, tracking progress, and optimising the learning experience to align with your organisational goals. I am also available to discuss resources offered by the CLC with members interested in exploring potential benefits for their staff and volunteers. Over the next few weeks, I will be working to implement some new support opportunities for team managers; including drop-in and 1:1 support meetings, and regular feedback sessions. I will also be developing support resource material aimed to improve volunteer engagement. 

Exploring External Educational Opportunities: In addition to internal learning support, I will actively seek out external educational opportunities to boost awareness of our common purpose. Training sessions will be available for external organisations at no cost, to highlight the rights of assistance dog users, and promote equity and service accessibility. Whilst these sessions are not designed to serve as fundraising opportunities, I am happy to collaborate with member organisations who feel these sessions would add value to their independent fundraising projects, or serve as a point of contact for members wishing to out-source external training. 

Collaboration and Idea Sharing: I am a firm believer in the benefits of collaboration and idea sharing. I invite you all to engage with me on various initiatives, projects, and brainstorming sessions. Whether you have a specific project in mind or simply wish to explore innovative approaches to promote learning and engagement, I am here to support your vision. 

You can contact Ash via email ashleigh.robertson@assistancedog.org.uk or on 07521 755083