2023 PAT Impact Awards

Pets As Therapy is celebrating 40 years of therapeutic visits and to mark the occasion the charity has launched the 2023 PAT Impact Awards.

We know our PAT Teams are amazing and thousands of people across the UK benefit from their visits – but we want you to tell us more about our unsung heroes, the volunteers who do incredible work, make a huge impact and change people’s lives for the better.

There four Outstanding Impact Award categories and we’re looking for nominations for:

A PAT Team who significantly helped a young person with mental health issues. This Award is in memory of Isobel Moseby.
A PAT Team involved in the Read2Dogs scheme who significantly changed the life of a schoolchild for the better.
A PAT Team who offered support to an individual/family through a difficult time.
A PAT Team who dramatically turned around a person’s fear of dogs.

Anyone can nominate a PAT Team for an Impact Award. Perhaps your life has be turned around thanks to a PAT Volunteer and their PAT Pet. Or maybe you’ve seen first-hand how a visiting PAT Team has played a significant role helping and supporting a schoolchild, young person or family.

We’re encouraging establishments, beneficiaries, PAT supporters and PAT Volunteers to fill in an easy online form. Please note that PAT Volunteers cannot nominate themselves.

Click here to nominate a PAT Team for a 2023 PAT Impact Award.

Please provide your contact details, the name of the PAT Team you are nominating and the reason(s) why you think they are worthy winners.

The closing date for entries is 28 March 2023. All establishments nominating a PAT Team must ensure that PAT visiting requirements are in place. Nominations will be read by a panel of judges who will decide on one winner for each of the four categories. The judges’ decision is final and not subject to review or appeal. Winners will be notified by 1 May 2023.

Your questions answered

What are the PAT Impact Awards? The PAT Impact Awards are new for 2023 and have been launched to coincide with our 40th anniversary celebrations. Four special Outstanding Impact Awards will be given to four PAT Teams – unsung heroes who do incredible work, make a huge impact and change people’s lives for the better. One of our Awards is in memory of Isobel Moseby, a 22-year-old animal lover from Southampton.

How does a PAT Team win an Award? We are asking establishments (schools, residential homes, hospitals, hospices, etc), beneficiaries, families, supporters, VACs and PAT Volunteers to nominate PAT Teams. There is an easy online form to complete. We need some information about you, who you are nominating, and we want you to tell us why the PAT Team deserves to win an Award.

You can nominate as many PAT Teams as you like (ie a VAC could nominate several PAT Teams) and an establishment can make several nominations for their visiting PAT Team (ie four teachers could vote for the same PAT Team).

All establishments nominating a PAT Team must ensure that PAT visiting requirements are in place.

Can a PAT Volunteer nominate themselves? No. PAT Volunteers cannot nominate themselves for an Award. They can, however, tell the school, hospital, residential home or wherever they visit, about the 2023 PAT Impact Awards. Establishments can then fill in the online form and recommend a PAT Team for an Award.

Can a PAT Volunteer nominate another PAT Team? Yes. Anyone can nominate a PAT Team for an Award. The only exception is that you can’t nominate yourself.

When is the closing date? The closing date for all entries is Tuesday 28 March 2023.

Who will be judging the Awards? Nominations will be read by a panel of judges – including Clare Davis (Pets As Therapy CEO) and Sean Moseby (Isobel’s father) – who will decide on one winner for each of the four categories. The judges’ decision is final and not subject to review or appeal. Winners will be notified by 1 May 2023.

When/where will winners get their Impact Award? The four winning PAT Teams will be invited to Goodwoof on Sunday 21 May 2023 to receive their PAT Impact Award. Goodwoof is a two-day event at Goodwood Estate, West Sussex, and is a celebration of all things dog. Pets As Therapy has been chosen as Goodwoof’s charity partner for 2023.

Each winner can bring a guest. PAT Dogs are welcome too, but please think of their welfare and whether they would be comfortable at a busy event. Travel expenses and accommodation will be provided.

If a winner is unable to attend Goodwoof, Pets As Therapy will personally deliver the Award.

Is there a prize for the winners? Each of the four winning PAT Teams will receive a special Pets As Therapy Award to keep and treasure, as well as other goodies.

We are always looking to recruit more volunteers.

You can find more info here