The dawn of a new era for Suffolk Dog Day

Suffolk Dog Day was launched in 2007 by an incredible group of volunteers.

Whilst sat around a table enjoying a meal, they decided to launch a fun day for dogs and their owners in order to create awareness and raise funds for the work of Suffolk Community Foundation.

After many years of success, during which thousands of people have been entertained and over £600,000 raised for good causes, the event is about to enter a new era.

The very special day has become a much-loved highlight in the Suffolk calendar and, even more importantly, the hard work of hundreds of local volunteers has helped the Foundation to support local charities and community groups with the vital work they do in the county.

With many more thousands of people now attending, the event has grown to a size where it needs the resource of a large team to ensure its future growth and success.

Suffolk Community Foundation worked with its volunteers informed by Community Action Suffolk data to identify a number of partners who could potentially benefit from an event like this and who had the capacity to build on our success.

Following this consultation process a new home has been found for Suffolk Dog Day with the in-house volunteer team at St. Elizabeth Hospice with funds
raised helping to support their vital work in Suffolk.

This year’s event will be staged at Helmingham Hall on Sunday 10th September 2023.

The Foundation has spent the last few weeks contacting its sponsors, volunteers and trade stand partners to explain the changes and put them in touch with the Hospice team.

The Foundation has been so proud to be associated with Suffolk Dog Day for the past 16 years and
grateful to the support it has received.

MELANIE CRAIG, CEO, SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Finding the right organisation with the level of skills and resources to take Suffolk Dog Day forward has been very important to everyone involved in this event so far. We have every confidence that the brilliant team at St. Elizabeth Hospice are in the best possible position to create an even brighter future for this important fundraising initiative and much-loved date in the Suffolk calendar.

TIM HOLDER, HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

We want to thank everyone in Suffolk: our Foundation volunteers, sponsors, the team at Helmingham Hall, the local media and, of course, all those
who we are sure will continue to pass through the entrance gates ‘on two legs and four’.

RICHARD COOPER, VOLUNTEER CHAIRMAN OF SUFFOLK DOG DAY

This is truly an event for Suffolk by Suffolk and we are delighted to say that, having handed over the reins to the caring leadership of the team at St. Elizabeth Hospice, it will continue to be so. Thank you to the team at Suffolk Community Foundation for providing such fantastic support in both helping us to raise the money and ensuring that every penny has made a positive difference to the lives of people in Suffolk.