Cash crisis at RSPCA Warrington branch IT could be a miserable Christmas for the 100 animals currently housed at the RSPCA centre, Slutchers Lane, if staff cannot raise thousands of pounds before the end of December. The rehoming centre is facing its worst cash crisis since opening in 1984 and could be forced to close after donations dried up, leaving the future of cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds in doubt. Chris Walkden, manager at the centre, based in Warrington, said: “We have always been in demand. “We’re needed so much.” “We have got a good reputation for nursing back to health cruelty cases that have been abandoned, injured or abused and if an animal needs us we will take them from anywhere. “We have been told we’ve got enough money for a few months but then that’s it. In 2010, 672 animals were cared for at the centre with 49 per cent being admitted over welfare offences or concerns and up until the end of September this year, 483 animals were cared for with the number of welfare cases rising to 54 per cent. Treasurer Paul Draycott said: “Our target is to raise £30,000 by the end of the year. If we achieve that it will be a massive boost and put us in a stronger position going into 2012.” Success stories at the centre include Eddie the two-year-old German shepherd who was painfully skinny when he was taken to Slutchers Lane and Peggy the shih tzu who had lost most of her fur with a nasty skin condition. Both are now ready to be rehomed thanks to the hardwork and patience of staff. Lisa McCaulder, Warrington, Halton and St Helens branch secretary, said: “We rely on public donations, legacies and the revenue generated through our charity shops. “During these difficult times people are not donating as much money but at the same time, more animals need our help than ever before. “I would appeal to everyone to help us if they can.” READERS can help by visiting rspcawarrington.org.uk to make a donation or make cheques payable to the RSPCA Warrington, Halton and St Helens Branch branch. If the centre is not specified they will not receive the cash. Post them to the treasurer, Warrington Animal Centre, Slutchers Lane, Bank Quay, Warrington, WA1 1NA. Charity shops on Widnes Road, Widnes and Bridge Street, St Helens are open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4.30pm and welcome unwanted items or become a volunteer fundraiser by e-mailing trustee Kim Bate at kbfundraising@gmail.com. http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/9353889.Cash_crisis_at_RSPCA_Warrington_branch/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It´s that penultimate paragraph that gets me "If the centre is not specified they will not receive the cash." It´s just disgusting that when people make a donation to the RSPCA by cheque or arrange a bequest that unless they specify the branch the money will go to head office. I think most people are under the false impression that donations are shared out between head office and all the branches. The branches should be shouting this fact to the rooftops because head office certainly won´t publicise this situation. From the topic: Comments Post a comment in this discussion: 31 Dec 2011 21:04  Hi Sue, where is the shop in West Norwood? ... I am usually around Bermondsey, Peckham Dulwich, Sydenham etc 31 Dec 2011 21:01 Perhaps if they gave up their HQ a georgian mansion in the surrey countryside (I am sure it would do a footballers wife) and spent some of their donations on their branches .... 13 Nov 2011 09:11 From reading the article above, my impression is that the two charity shops mentioned in Widnes and St Helens specifically raise funds for the RSPCA branch in Slutchers Lane, Warrington, but I suppose some shops could be raising money for HQ. The only way to know, would be to ask. Think the shops should have notices up saying where their profits go. I remember the trouble over the Scottish SPCA Vena. I think RPSCA HQ behaves in quite an underhand way when it comes to fund raising. 12 Nov 2011 19:59  Far as l know the money from the charity shops goes to local branches (could be wrong. Totally agree Jacqui it should be made clear, l remember the hullabaloo couple of years ago with the Scottish SPCA http://www.heraldscotland.com/rspca-admits-taking-pound-1-25m-of-scots-cash-1.901890 12 Nov 2011 19:22  So you no the RSPCA charity shops, do they keep the money for that area i.e.,my branch in West Norwwod, South East all the monies they raise in that shop goes to the South, or all that money goes to HQ also? 12 Nov 2011 19:02 I think all the RSPCA branches should get together and work out a strategy for publicising the fact that they have to fund themselves and that if people donate or leave bequests to a particular branch of the RSPCA they must specify this ie print leaflets and get them put through doors, advertorials in local papers or just try to get a story in a local paper and use it to gain free publicity. The RSPCA put out all these tv ads which must cost a fortune and any resulting donations will just go to head office, they should have to state on their adverts that monies donated will go to head office unless people nominate a branch for their donation. 12 Nov 2011 10:18  I am totally disgusted by this sad story. The rs is one of the richest charities in the land yet the public face, ie Rescue centres, are struggling. It begs the question "What does rs do with all the money?" There ought to be a publicity drive based on the fact that if you donate money to the rs, it goes (and stays) in HQ coffers doing absolutely nothing for animal welfare. Much better to nominate the local branch, after all thats where the real workers exist. 12 Nov 2011 09:34 Yes your right Jacqui on both accounts, if you want to donate to them make sure its made out to your local branch not headquarters, l cant see either what these spin off branches get out of it especially as the rspca´s reputation is diminishing rapidly . 12 Nov 2011 08:29 As far as I know May & Sue, each branch of the RSPCA has to fund itself, and I did read somewhere that the branches have to pay head office for the use of the RSPCA name/logo !!!! It makes absolutely no sense to me at all, but what do I know. 12 Nov 2011 00:42  Gosh i never knew that the monies wasn´t shared out to all the branches. Why a earth is head office having most of the money. Then they wonder why people have cut down on there donations to them. When i donate money i want it to go towards the animals welfare not the head office |
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