Host a fundraising PATnic

What is a PATnic? It's a picnic with a difference – and everyone is invited! Host a PATnic with your family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and pets, and have fun while raising money for Pets As Therapy. 

We're inviting our volunteers, establishments, supporters, YOU to host a PATnic and raise funds for Pets As Therapy. It's a chance for people and pets to come together to chat, share food and drink, perhaps play games and take photos. With your help, the money raised at PATnics will ensure that we can continue to visit people in local communities. What's more, if you host a PATnic this year, you will be entered into a free prize draw — there are some great goodies up for grabs.

You can hold your event at any time and anywhere. All we ask is that you register your interest in organising a PATnic, see below. You'll receive a PATnic pack (digital or paper) with posters, invites and bunting, as well as a detailed guide to help you plan your PATnic and make it a huge success. This year it will be easier than ever for PATnic guests to donate — all they need to do is send a text. PATnic packs will be sent out within 14 days.

Check out our PATnic dog treat recipes too (see Document Downloads). They've all been tried and tested by PAT Dogs!

• What is a PATnic?

  A PATnic is a picnic with a difference, raising money for Pets As Therapy. It’s a great opportunity for people and pets to come together to chat, share food and drink, perhaps play games, take photos – have fun while fundraising. 

   

  It doesn’t matter where you host a PATnic. It can take place in your garden, a local park, your workplace, a beach – wherever suits you best. And if you’d prefer to simply enjoy a cup of tea and cake at your kitchen table, that’s fine too — anything goes, so be creative. A PATnic can be anything you want it to be!  

   

  You can host your PATnic at any time – PATnics don’t need to all happen on a specific day. Simply choose a date that best suits you. 

• Why host a PATnic?

  Pets As Therapy is a national charity that relies on the generosity of volunteers and fundraisers who help to ensure we offer our services to those who need it most. 

   

  Around 62% of UK households own a pet, so many of us know first-hand the joy and incredible power of the human-animal bond. Pets make us smile, provide unconditional love and, thanks to PAT Volunteers, also enhance the health and wellbeing of thousands of people in communities across the UK. 

   

  Over 4,000 PAT Teams currently provide a visiting service in establishments such as residential nursing homes, day care centres, mainstream and special needs schools, universities, hospitals, hospices and prisons. However, we also have another 4,300 establishments on our waiting list.

   

  With your help, the money raised at PATnics will ensure that Pets As Therapy can continue to support people living in local communities. We're eager to recruit and access more PAT Teams to help us meet demand.

• How do you host a PATnic?

  First you need to register your interest in hosting a PATnic. You will be asked your name and email address, and whether you’d prefer a digital PATnic pack to download or a paper PATnic pack posted to you home. This will be sent to you within 14 days.

   

  Your PATnic pack includes a guide to hosting a PATnic, as well as invites, posters, bunting to cut out and colour in and a handy checklist. You'll also find details on how your PATnic guests can donate by text.

   

  We’ve also put together a booklet of dog treat recipes, provided by PAT Volunteers and tried and tested by PAT Dogs! You can download it from this page on our website. 

• Who do I invite to my PATnic?

  Anyone you want to invite. You can host a small PATnic in your garden for your family or a larger event at your workplace where colleagues can attend. A school may choose to organise a PATnic for pupils and parents, or neighbours may opt for a street party. Who you invite is up to you. 

   

  Your PATnic pack includes a poster that you can use to publicise your event, and there are PATnic invites too.  

• How do people donate at a PATnic?

  It's really easy for your PATnic guests to make a donation on the day. To give £10, all you need to do is text PATNIC to 70085.

   

  You can also choose an amount from £1 to £20 and simply add that number after PATNIC. For example, to donate £5 text PATNIC5 to 70085 and to donate £20 text PATNIC20 to 70085. Please Gift Aid your donation if you can.

   

  Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.

   

  If anyone gives you cash, we ask that you bank the money and then make a ‘One-off donation’ on the Donate page on our website. Alternatively, you can post a cheque, made payable to Pets As Therapy, to the address at the bottom of this page. Please write PATnic on the back.

• Can I fundraise for Pets As Therapy without organising a PATnic?

  Of course! Check out our Fundraising Guides and Fundraising Planner on our website — go to Menu and click on Fundraising under Support Pets As Therapy. 

• How will the money I raise help Pets As Therapy?

  Your money will help us in many ways. Visits by PAT Teams can bring comfort and companionship to people who may feel isolated, confused or lonely. They help young people to improve their literacy skills and encourage confidence and concentration in the classroom. Visits also aid a patient’s recovery and rehabilitation and help improve mental health and wellbeing. 

   

  Take a look at our PAT Stories on our website (under News and Events) to read more about our PAT Teams. There’s Rachael and Arlo who help an autistic child struggling to attend school on a daily basis. Andy and Lola are regular visitors to Great Ormond Street Hospital, cheering up patients on cancer wards. And Keith and Bella are bringing joy to Ukrainian families currently living in the UK — some have left their pets behind. 

• How do I share the photos I take at my PATnic?

  We really want to see photos of your PATnic, so please make sure you share these and tag us. Our main social media handles are:  

  Facebook - @Pets As Therapy  

  Instagram - @petsastherapy_uk  

  Twitter - @PetsAsTherapyUK  

  LinkedIn - @Pets As Therapy  

   

  Remember to get permission from everyone you take a photo of. You will need permission (preferably written) from parents before taking photos of children. Please let them know that the images may be used for marketing and publicity purposes by yourself and Pets As Therapy. 

• How do I enter this year's free prize draw for hosting a PATnic?

  We're delighted that everyone who hosts a PATnic this year will be entered into our free prize draw, with winners being picked at random on Tuesday 1 October 2024. To be in with the chance of winning some great goodies, you must register to host a PATnic via our online form. Then, after hosting your PATnic and raising money, email us at competition@petsastherapy.org and your name will be added to the draw.

• I still need help

  Please email your query to: marketing@petsastherapy.org