How Support Dog Kelly Helped Isobella go from Isolation to Confidence
By Charities Correspondent
Just two years ago, 10-year-old Isobella Mapstone could barely leave her home. Today, she is confidently speaking in front of large audiences, crediting her autism assistance dog Kelly for transforming her life.
Isobella, who is autistic and has ADHD, lives in Edwinstowe, near Mansfield, with her mother Chelsey Barnes and her sister Esmee, who is also autistic. Everyday life once felt overwhelming, with busy shops, loud sounds and unfamiliar environments often triggering severe anxiety and meltdowns.
Her life began to change after being matched with Kelly, a yellow Labrador trained by the Yorkshire-based charity Support Dogs.
The partnership began in February 2024, and after a year of training and preparation, Isobella and her family officially graduated with Kelly in May 2025.
Speaking at the charity’s annual Graduation and Awards ceremony, attended by more than 160 people, Isobella delivered an emotional speech celebrating her four-legged companion.
“This is a really special day because we are celebrating my best friend Kelly,” she said. “Kelly makes me brave.”
Before Kelly, everyday outings could be distressing and unpredictable.
Chelsey described how supermarket visits could quickly become overwhelming, with Isobella sometimes running off, hiding, or becoming distressed in crowded spaces.
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There were serious safety concerns too. On one occasion as a young child, Isobella ran towards a road and had to be stopped by a passer-by. At other times, she would wander off in shops, once going missing and being found behind a toy display after a major search.
Chelsey, who works as a tutor for autistic children, said the family discovered Support Dogs through social media after a recommendation from a paediatrician, applying for help in 2022.
When Kelly arrived, she quickly became a grounding presence in Isobella’s life. The once-anxious schoolgirl is now able to visit busy places such as supermarkets, cinemas, swimming pools and even go on holidays.
“Now with Kelly by my side, I can do all those things,” Isobella said. “She helps me feel safe.”
Chelsey described the transformation as life-changing.
“She’s our life,” she said. “The change Kelly has brought to our family is incredible.”
Isobella also thanked Support Dogs instructors Katie Childs and Rebecca Cochran for their support in building the partnership.
Chelsey added: “She’d never done anything like that before. It was incredible.”
To learn more about the work of Support Dogs, visit Support Dogs or call 0114 2617800.
