Local social enterprise Be Well Glossop who build wellbeing across the community, have been giving thanks for the generosity of their neighbours following the success of their recent Fun Dog Show hosted by Woof & Ready, Glossop’s only dedicated canine facility offering grooming, play-care and hydrotherapy.

Chief executive of the not-for-profit, Jayne Owen, explained why she was counting her blessings: “Post-pandemic, we have had to really scrabble for funding for all of our programmes, from physical activity for older people to our parent and child sessions held in ‘old folks homes’ and when one of our customers Holly Morris heard that we needed help, she offered her facilities at Woof & Ready to host a Fun Dog Show. We’re all dog people at Be Well and we bit her hand off – figuratively, of course.”

The Be Well team took over the former warehouse on Surrey Street for the Sunday afternoon and contacted other local businesses for support. Which is when they became a little overwhelmed. “I am Glossop born and bred and even I was surprised by how generous the local High Street and other traders were. We were offered support by the town’s butchers, by bakers and, yes, even by a local candle-maker well, seller! We were given raffle prizes by pubs and restaurants, tombola prizes by dog-focused retailers and working-from-home craftspeople.

Gary from Rebel Dog Training helped enormously with marketing, even arranging and paying for an advertising banner.  Far too many people to list here but we are so grateful to each and every one of them. We were particularly touched by the traders who took over the building’s forecourt to offer their canine products to our customers and by Scott Anderson of Mountain Miles who judged all the classes from Best Rescue to the Obedience Challenge which attracted a contestant from Bradwell in the Hope Valley. So many lovely people!”

The event raised nearly £1500 to help fund an expansion of Be Well’s Intergenerational projects. Along the way it boosted the wellbeing of anyone who got involved.