Building a Stronger Community: RSPCA Sunderland Branch’s Commitment to Local Animal Welfare

Written by Alara Lyons

Interested in joining us on a journey where passion meets purpose? Today, we want to shed light on how we support our local community and how, in turn, you can support us! ????

How We Support Our Local Community

Pet Food Bank

With the cost-of-living crisis rife across the country, we recognise the financial struggles pet owners may face. Our Pet Food Bank scheme accepts pet food donations from within our local community, which is then made available to local applicants facing financial difficulty, as a short-term solution. In some circumstances, pet-owners are choosing to go hungry themselves, in order to meet the costs associated with feeding their animals. We are here to ensure that this is not a choice they have to make. We can also offer pet welfare signposting and alternative services for those who need longer-term assistance.

For more information, please head over to our website and fill out our online form.

Neutering and Microchipping Scheme

As a local RSPCA branch, we offer a voucher scheme through which we can contribute towards the costs of neutering and microchipping. Through our scheme, we aim to bolster the shared mission of the National Society and regional branches, by promoting animal care and protection, while acknowledging financial challenges.

So, for pet-owners facing financial strain, we may be able to offer a small amount towards having your pet neutered and microchipped.

Terms and conditions apply. To ensure you are eligible, please read our checklist which you can find on our website.

Prevention Education

Part of our long-term aim, is to continue to invest in a caring future for all animals by providing educational resources for children, targeting younger age groups and teaching them the importance of animal welfare.

Following the success of our primary school-targeted ‘Tot & the 5 Welfare Wisps’, which saw the publication of our very own children’s book, we were able to secure a grant - allowing us to build on our educational materials. This project looked at the human impact on our coastal fauna (in particular, following the story of an injured seal pup), around which we created a classroom pack filled with lesson plans and classroom activities. We sent out the classroom pack to 50 primary schools within our branch area and, in the summer, we hope to hold a coastal educational event to further our goals in prevention education amongst our younger communities.

Keep an eye on our social channels, or sign-up to our newsletter to stay up to date.

How Our Local Community Can Support Us

Donations to Our Charity Shop

Why not pop over to our gorgeous little charity shop? We are always happy to welcome customers, and our regulars will tell you - we love what we do!

The money raised from your preloved clothing and homeware directly contributes to supporting those local furry friends in need. We even do our own PAT testing, so can accept electricals that are in good working order too.

If you would like to donate goods, we are located on Chester-le-Street Front Street, number 19 - just by Ashley Terrace!

Financial Donations and Memberships

If you're looking to make a one-off or regular contribution to support our work, you can donate a sum to our branch in several ways. You might like to visit our JustGiving Page or request to send a donation via PayPal. Every single penny helps - so we are hugely grateful for all donations, no matter how big or small.

Regular monetary contributions help fund our branch’s vital work in the promotion of animal welfare, day in and day out.

Make a difference by becoming a member! From as little as ￡24 per annum, you can become a proud member of the RSPCA community and make a real difference towards the lives of local animals.

Volunteer

If you have time to give, are passionate about animal welfare, and would like the opportunity to join a small but passionate (and fun) team, we have a range of ways you can get involved - and we would love to hear from you.

Whether you are interested in helping with our online sales (ebay), working behind the till or in the stock rooms of our charity shop, or perhaps you'd make a great trustee or fundraiser. We cater to the interests of our volunteers, and we appreciate that every minute you give us is a gift.

By volunteering you can make a great contribution to our work in preventing cruelty, promoting kindness, and alleviating the suffering of animals.

If you are interested, please pop us an email: [email protected]

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

We would love to partner with local businesses that share our mission to make a positive difference.

This opportunity allows us to support local businesses in the community but could also provide additional funds for campaign budgets, enhancing animal welfare and awareness.

We have a number of events and opportunities that we are keen to discuss with local businesses, and we'd love to invite you in for a cuppa - so please do drop us a line if you'd like to partner with us as part of your corporate responsibility targets: 0191 3805636

As we strive to create a kinder and caring community for our furry friends, we invite local businesses to partner with us in this cause. If you believe in our mission and embody the values we promote, we’d love to hear from you! ??

Thank You!