CHARITY Canine Partners is delighted to announce that it has been chosen by 18 branches of Wilko as their charity of the year, from May this year to April next.

Dog-assistance charity Canine Partners was chosen by team members from Wilko stores in the company’s region covering Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and West Sussex, including the Wilko store at Bordon’s Forest Shopping Centre.

Wilko team members said they would be taking on a range of events throughout the year to support the charity.

Anne Yendell, director of fundraising, marketing and communications at Canine Partners, said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with Wilko because we do not receive any Government funding and rely solely on donations.

Their support and commitment to fundraising for us will enable us to create more partnerships, transforming even more lives.”

All funds raised will help Canine Partners to train more assistance dogs and transform the lives of people with disabilities, including wounded servicemen and women.

Canine Partners provides trained assistance dogs to help people with disabilities with everyday tasks like opening and closing doors, undressing, pressing buttons, retrieving items, unloading washing machines, ATM use, which people may find difficult, painful or impossible to do.

• Visit caninepartners.org.uk/donate