Supporting Mental Health Through Trauma-Informed, Canine-Assisted Wellbeing
Paws4Minds provides trauma-informed mental health and wellbeing support through structured programmes designed to help people feel safer, calmer, and more connected.
Our work combines professional mental health training with the calming presence of Noodle, our wellbeing support dog, to create supportive environments where individuals can build emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience.
Paws4Minds works with:
• Schools and education settings
• SEND and alternative provision
• Youth justice services
• Healthcare and wellbeing services
• Workplace wellbeing programmes
Our sessions are designed to be engaging, safe, and evidence-informed, helping participants develop practical tools to support their mental health and wellbeing.
Our Approach
At Paws4Minds we take a trauma-informed approach, recognising that many individuals have experienced stress, adversity, or emotional challenges.
Our work is aligned with the ARC Framework (Attachment, Regulation and Competency), which focuses on:
Attachment – building safe, supportive relationships
Regulation – developing emotional awareness and self-regulation
Competency – strengthening confidence, skills, and resilience
The presence of Noodle helps create a calm and welcoming atmosphere that can support engagement, especially for individuals who may find traditional conversations about mental health difficult.
Meet Ian
Paws4Minds was founded by Ian Blakemore, a qualified mental health and wellbeing practitioner with a strong commitment to supporting emotional wellbeing in communities.
Ian holds a CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Mental Health & Wellbeing and is an ARC Trauma-Informed Champion.
He works with schools, education settings, and healthcare environments, including experience supporting young people in CAMHS inpatient services.
Ian’s approach focuses on:
• Creating safe and supportive spaces
• Helping individuals understand their emotions
• Building practical wellbeing skills
• Encouraging confidence and personal growth
Through Paws4Minds, Ian aims to make mental health support approachable, engaging, and accessible for people of all ages.
Meet Noodle
Noodle is the Paws4Minds wellbeing support dog and plays an important role in many sessions.
Noodle’s calm and friendly nature helps create a relaxed atmosphere where participants often feel more comfortable engaging, talking, and practising emotional regulation skills.
For many people, the simple presence of a dog can:
• reduce stress and anxiety
• support emotional regulation
• encourage positive social interaction
• help people feel safe and grounded
Noodle helps make wellbeing sessions engaging, calming, and memorable.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple:
To support mental health and wellbeing through safe, compassionate, and trauma-informed support.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to feel heard, supported, and equipped with the tools they need to manage life’s challenges.
If you would like to learn more about Paws4Minds or discuss support for your organisation, please get in touch.