A HAMPSHIRE charity event has raised £7,000 for an assistance dog organisation.

Tea has been slurped and cake chomped to raise thousands for disabled people and Canine Partners.

The funds will help the organisation to train more dogs that support disabled people with everyday tasks.

From picking up dropped items, to dressing people and even unloading washing machines, the dogs are also trained to fetch help in an emergency.

Volunteer Ali Bailey, from Chandler’s Ford, organised a cream tea in Bishops Waltham for more than 70 guests.

Ali has volunteered with Canine Partners for more than ten years as a speaker and demo dog handler.

Ali said: “We had a fantastic time at our cream tea,

enjoying lots of cake, champagne and good company while raising money for such a worthy

cause.

“Although I organised the event I could not have done it without our hosts and my team of enthusiastic volunteers.

“We also had fantastic support from local businesses that sponsored the event.”

A raffle also took place to help raise funds for the charity, with 150 scones, 300 pieces of cake and dozens of glasses of champagne all going towards fundraising for the organisation.

Ali added: “Canine Partners received no government funding so events like these really do make a difference – helping to train dogs that transform people’s lives for the better.”

Ali also visits events across the country to promote the charity’s work, with her demo dog Yarna showing off some of the skills that the dogs are taught.

Supported by a team of 12 people who helped her host the event, all the money will go towards the training of dogs.

The charity helps to bring greater independence and quality of life to the people who are partnered with a dog.

The animals also provide psychological and social benefits including increased independence, confidence, social interaction and self-esteem.

It also receives no funding from the government.