An NHS trust volunteer and his therapy dog have received a British Citizen Award.
Barry Coase, from Willingdon, is an army veteran who suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
To cope, Barry adopted bichon frise Bella in 2014 as a puppy after a woman dropped her off at a dog rescue centre.
Bella became a therapy dog for Barry, providing comfort for him during nightmares and moments of distress. Bella would also help him when he was having debilitating panic attacks in public.
Together, the pair visited special needs schools and palliative care settings as well as wards and emergency departments to spread the support Bella provides. Barry gave talks on animal assisted therapies for palliative care, end of life moments, intensive care and children’s wards.
Barry and Bella also volunteer with Combat Stress, the UK’s leading veteran mental health charity.
During the pandemic, while visits were off the cards, Barry formed ‘Team Bella’ which completed fundraising efforts such as walking 100 miles and raising money at events such as air shows.
This summer Barry and Bella were invited to the Palace of Westminster to receive a British Citizen Award alongside 26 other stand-out individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to society.
READ MORE: Newhaven women to skydive 15,000 feet for RNLI
In 2021, Barry and Bella also won the "animal partnership" category in the Soldiering On military awards, which honours the unique relationships pets can provide to the armed forces community.
Steve Aumayer, deputy chief executive and chief people officer at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are so pleased and proud that Barry has received this prestigious honour.
“All our volunteers here at the trust are vital in supporting the work we do. A lot of the time they are the first person patients will see when they walk through the door.
“We thank every one of them for the time they give up to help the trust and serve their community.”
The British Citizen Awards are held every year and “recognise the achievements of ordinary individuals who made extraordinary contributions to their communities”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel