HELP THE CENTRE

There are many ways in which you can help the Centre. Obviously the most tangible way is to give one of the residents a loving and caring home, however, it is a regrettable fact that for every animal that is re-homed, there is another waiting to take their place. Another important way to help is to give a donation of either money or goods, such as food, blankets and toys, but we do understand that sometimes this is not possible.

So, if you do wish to contribute, but cannot afford a gift, you could always donate something that costs nothing - TIME !

What this involves and to what extent is entirely down to you. Below are some examples of where you could help, but the smallest things can really make life a lot more bearable for the animals the Centre cares for.

    Cleaning pens - All of the guests at the Centre have basic needs and of course this generates a rota of constant housekeeping. For the comfort and hygiene of the animals, staff and visitors it is vital that the cleaning takes place on a daily basis and there are a group of unsung hero's who help the staff complete this work. Whether you can spare several mornings every week or just a day a month, every bit of help would be appreciated.

    Gardening, Maintenance & Decorating - The Centre and its facilities are obviously subject to the rigors of nature and to help maintain a pleasant environment for all, there is an on going maintenance schedule, executed by Centre staff and outside contractors. Remember that every item of work carried out by a volunteer will save money that can be spent on animal welfare, so if you are a budding Alan Titchmarsh, Bob The Builder or simply someone who likes to potter around, there is always something to do!

    Experience & Expertise - On a regular basis, the Friends are kindly given a huge variety of items to be sold at our fund raising events, most of which is traditional "bric-a-brac". Obviously there are times when we receive things that are potentially worth more than just a few pence or pounds. A typical example was when, a few months ago, the Friends were given a horse figurine which transpired to be a Beswick piece worth several hundred pounds. Fortunately the Friends were made aware of its value early on. However there will have been many occasions when items of value have slipped through our fingers into the hands of "professionals" who come early and scour the stalls at Fun Day, etc. So, if you have knowledge of a particular subject either as an expert, or just as a keen amateur, the Friends be grateful for your assistance prior to putting items up for sale. Areas of interest may include books, records, pictures and ornamentals although you never really know what may turn up. We don't profess to offer you an antiques road show but one day we could find the real Harrison No.7 !!!

    Repairs & Renovation - In the example of the Beswick Horse, the Centre had to enlist the services of a local expert to carry out minor repairs in order to maximise the auction potential. He was generous enough to undertake this for free and the Centre is looking for people with similar skills to help in this area, to anything from ceramics or fabrics to books or even furniture.

    Help with Fund Raising Events - Every year the Friends organise a number of fund raising events, the largest being Fun Day in June, but also including our Christmas Fayre and other smaller affairs. Volunteers are always needed to assist in every area, be it looking after a stall, taking entrance money, raising sponsorship or just simply "helping out"!!

    Saleable Items - If you can't spare time on the day, you can still help by making or providing low cost saleable items such as: homemade jam, plants, cakes & pies, knitwear, framed drawings/pictures/photographs, bird boxes. The list is endless!!!

    Donations & Sponsorship - You can really help by generating our most valuable contributions - cash! This can be done in many ways, from simply having a donation box at work or over the bar at your local pub or club to holding your own sponsored event in aid of "The Friends". If you have any ideas about fund raising we would be pleased to offer advice and support.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOUR SERVICES IN ANY

CAPACITY PLEASE CONTACT THE CENTRE (for details click here)