Project Description
Industry: Animal Care
Partner Programme: None
Activity Type: Volunteering
Business involved: Oliver’s Army Assistance and Therapy Dogs
Name of School: Pupil Support Service – The Bridges Centre
Pupil Support Service – The Bridges Centre partnered with Oliver’s Army Assistance and Therapy Dogs to create a bespoke volunteer placement for Jodie, an S3 care-experienced pupil with a strong passion for animals.
Already a dedicated, hardworking learner with previous volunteering experience, Jodie was offered an initial visit to Oliver’s Army. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude impressed staff so much that she was invited to return for a longer-term weekly placement, starting in November and running through to Christmas. The placement is designed to build confidence, meta-skills and real-world volunteering experience in an environment closely aligned to her interests.
Collaborative Partners
Oliver’s Army is a community-focused Scottish charity that helps individuals train their own dogs to become fully qualified assistance dogs. Through weekly training classes and wider wellbeing support, they:
Guide owners in training assistance, hearing, medical alert and disability support dogs.
Offer social activities and a mental health drop-in service.
Promote wellbeing, confidence and connection for both people and their dogs.
By hosting Jodie, Oliver’s Army are supporting a young person to gain structured work experience while contributing meaningfully to their day-to-day work with clients and dogs.
The Bridges Centre identified Jodie’s strengths, interests and previous volunteering experience and sought a placement that would:
- Build on her passion for animals.
- Support her to develop meta-skills such as focus, initiative, communication and adaptability.
- Keep her motivated and engaged in learning by linking school to real-life work.
The partnership aligns with the wider aims of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) by providing a tailored, real-world placement for a young person who benefits from additional support.
Programme Aims
The work placement was designed to:
- Develop Jodie’s meta-skills (focus, initiative, communication, adaptability).
- Give her regular, structured experience in a real workplace.
- Build confidence by enabling her to take on meaningful responsibilities.
- Support progress towards SQA Work Placement Unit Level 3 and Steps to Work Level 3.
- Reinforce her motivation to attend school and work toward her qualifications.
Activity Overview
Following a successful introductory visit, Jodie began a weekly placement with Oliver’s Army in November. She attends regularly up to Christmas, working alongside staff to support both dogs and clients.
Her activities include:
- Assisting with the settling and assessment of dogs through walks and play.
- Supporting basic training with foster volunteers (e.g. core commands and safe behaviours).
- Helping in advanced training tasks tailored to dogs supporting people with visual, hearing, medical or physical needs.
- Supporting classes where owners learn to work with their dogs as a team.
- Helping with general duties, such as assisting in classes, supporting admin tasks in the office and maintaining training records.
She has also had the chance to be part of the charity’s annual Christmas Open Day, further embedding her in the life of the organisation and giving her experience of a busy community event.
Throughout, staff at Oliver’s Army provide guidance, feedback and encouragement, while school staff check in on progress and link her experience back to her learning targets and qualifications.
Impact and Outcomes
The placement has already had a clear positive impact on Jodie’s skills, confidence and engagement.
Jodie is building focus, responsibility and reliability by attending regularly and contributing to real tasks. She is gaining practical skills in animal care, training and supporting others and her communication and confidence are growing as she interacts with staff, clients and volunteers.
Qualifications and Progression
Jodie is working towards SQA Work Placement Unit Level 3.
She is also progressing on Steps to Work Level 3, supported by her placement experience.
Feedback
Oliver’s Army staff member:
“Jodie is a great worker. She has been helping us with the training of the dogs, and she is a great assistant to us during classes with clients. Jodie has also been helping in the office and even taught us how to laminate. Jodie could work on her confidence as she is really good at what she does.”
Jodie (14):
“The thing I like best about Oliver’s Army is the dogs. I love looking after them and training them.”
Teacher at PSS:
“Jodie has grown a lot during this experience. She looked so at ease when I came back for a visit a few weeks after she started. She fully took part in training the dogs during classes, and she seemed to know exactly what to do. I’m grateful to the team for taking Jodie under their wings and teaching her.”