"At the centre of everything we do, are the needs of the individual person in front of us"

Nicola Maxwell - PAWS Founder & Director

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Our Story

Founder and Director Nici Maxwell first discovered the benefits of AAI while she was supporting children that were looked after, had experienced trauma or had significant learning needs. The school had a visiting therapy dog and when she saw the demeanour of the children change in the presence of the dog she knew her journey into AAI had just begun. Nici acquired Jackson, her black labrador, with the sole purpose that he would become her work partner and therapy dog for the schools she was, at that time, supporting.

This happened to coincide with Nici’s own personal journey with her daughter, who was on the pathway to being diagnosed as Autistic and ADHD. Jackson proved to be life changing - allowing Nici’s daughter to take him out to public spaces when she was anxious, co regulating with her at night so she could go to sleep and providing deep pressure therapy when she is heightened.

From this Nici (and Jackson) founded People and Animal Wellbeing Services CIC (PAWS wellbeing), a company dedicated to providing effective and impactful AAI. While Nici and her family sadly lost Jackson unexpectedly in January of 2024 his legacy is that the CIC has grown exponentially. With an ever increasing need PAWS has gone from one woman and her dog to an incredible team of over 20 humans and their dogs supporting adults, children and young people across Surrey; Berkshire and Hampshire.

This growth also means that we have been able to expand the programmes that we offer. Thanks to the incredible competencies within our team - we support not only emotional literacy, communication and wellbeing; but from 2025, programmes covering Tutoring and Alternative Education utilising practical AAI.

While we may be bigger, (supporting over 130 people each week) our ethos has remained: At the centre of everything that we do, are the needs of the individual person in front of us.

“I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.”

– Doris Day

PAWS Founder Nici Maxwell with Rudy the Pug and Jackson

Many of the students we refer find it difficult to open up about issues they have or to engage with adults about their difficulties. They find having an animal present both reassuring and stimulating, allowing them to engage in a way they would find uncomfortable in any 1:1 situation with an adult.

Brakenhale School