Jan Edwards from Moira in Northern Ireland visits four residential care homes and a hospital day centre for adults with learning disabilities – with her gorgeous Golden Doodle Ziggy in tow.

It's Day 5 of Volunteers' Week and we're meeting Jan, who tells us that volunteering is all about seeing smiles on people's faces. "That makes it all worthwhile. At the care homes I visit I enjoy chatting with the residents while they pet Ziggy. It's great to listen and hear about their interesting lives. A lot of the residents we visit had their own dogs in the past and it brings back very happy memories when we chat about owning a dog."

Jan recalls one particular moment of magic. "I was going into a gentleman’s room and I was told he doesn’t connect or join in with group activities, but he was so excited to meet Ziggy. Apparently, it’s the only time he wants to join in and communicate."

Volunteering with PAT appealed to Jan because she liked the idea of giving back to the community. "I was delighted when Ziggy was singled out at a country fair as having the perfect temperament for a PAT Dog. I thought he was too big! 

"Now, as soon as Ziggy puts on his PAT jacket and bandana, he knows it’s ‘work’ time! He is a very sociable dog and just loves seeing all his friends. You can tailor the visits to suit your time and the rewards are great! Meeting people and knowing you are making a difference is so good for your own wellbeing too.”