Resident therapy dog at the Hub.

If you’ve spent time at IAF, there’s a good chance you’ve already met our resident therapy dog Boomer. With his calming presence and an uncanny ability to know when someone needs a moment, Boomer is a much-loved and valued member of our team.

Boomer’s role at IAF goes far beyond being a friendly face and his presence helps build trust, encourages engagement, and offers non-judgemental support when words feel hard to find.  As a Pets As Therapy registered dog, Boomer has spent several years supporting young people and staff alongside his owner, Jamie, who is one of our King's Trust Team Leaders. His relaxed temperament and training which meet standards required for therapeutic environments perfectly complements our trauma-informed, person-centred approach and we often hear that meeting Boomer is highlight during our programmes.

With Boomer on site to create a calmer, more welcoming environment, many young people find that spending time with Boomer reduces their anxiety and supports their emotional regulation. Whether a quiet sit together is needed or just the knowledge that he’s nearby, his presence makes such a difference to wellbeing and inclusion across our community settings and now the Hub. We’re incredibly proud to have Boomer as part of the IAF team and whilst He may not lead sessions or write reports, but his impact is felt every single day.