Therapy Dog Bella Nominated for BBC Community Honor

A therapy dog has captured the hearts of countless teenagers and earned a nomination for a prestigious community award. Bella, a six-year-old Border Collie cross, has been named a finalist in the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards for Bristol. The awards celebrate individuals and animals who significantly impact their communities.

Based at Jamie’s Farm near Bath, Bella has supported over 3,000 young people since 2019 through her role at the national education and farming charity. Jamie’s Farm, founded in 2009 by Tish and Jamie Feilden, operates two farms in the Box Valley—Hill House and the recently inaugurated Lower Shockerwick Farm. These sites offer five-day residential stays for young people facing behavioural, attendance, or mental health challenges.

Bella serves as a constant companion to visitors, playing an essential role in the farm’s therapeutic initiatives. Her calming presence often encourages young people to open up during “walk-and-talk” sessions led by Julie Tonks, the farm’s therapeutic lead and Bella’s owner.

Julie expressed her pride in Bella’s recognition, stating, “We’re overjoyed that Bella’s enormous contribution in helping young people to build their confidence and self-esteem has been recognised by the BBC Make a Difference Awards.” She described Bella’s intuitive nature, noting that the dog can sense when someone is struggling. “She can recognise when someone isn’t feeling great and has an innate ability to meet them where their energy is, putting them at ease. I can’t think of a single young person that hasn’t left here feeling a connection with her.”

Recently, Bella transitioned from Jamie’s Farm Hill House to the newly opened Lower Shockerwick Farm, the charity’s seventh site. Officially opened in July by its patron, Her Majesty The Queen, the new site is expected to welcome up to 500 young people and their teachers each year.

Among those who attribute their personal growth to Bella is Amani, a teenager from London who visited the farm in 2022. She recalled, “The second Bella came up to me I came out of my shell.” Amani formed a close bond with Bella during her stay, stating that the dog helped her discover a level of confidence she had never experienced before.

The winners of the BBC Make a Difference Awards will be revealed at a ceremony at the Harbour Hotel in Bristol on September 26, 2023. Regardless of the outcome, Bella has already made a lasting impact on the lives of many young people, highlighting the transformative power of therapy animals in nurturing emotional well-being.