About SOFA

An animal action club based at Thorpe House School, in Norwich. We have grown from 15 to almost 100 over the past five years and our main activities involve fund raising for local animal charities and campaigning on a variety of animal issues. This month we gave cheques to three charities based in Norfolk. Hillside Animal Sanctuary received £350, for veterinary equipment,PACT Animal Sanctuary received £750 to help with their rabbit housing project and Labrador Rescue receive £100 to help with their wonderful work. We always choose to support local charities as we can visit them and are kept in touch with what they do, on a regular basis.

At the time of the last General Election, we invited all of the candidates in from Norwich North and questioned them on their views on animals and animal rights and then we staged our own ´mock election´! The elected MP, Dr Ian Gibson, visits our Club meetings and has offered to help with our latest campaign. Richard Bacon MP has arranged for us to attend Parliament, in October where he is prepared to receive our petition, by Big Ben! The wonderful Marc Abraham (tv vet) will be coming with us, too! We are also, very lucky, just over the last few months to have gained a wide range of well known supporters who are keen to encourage the work that young people are trying to do. Education has to be the key to improving the lives of animals and, I feel bold enough to say, that animals improve our lives, enormously too!

SOFA has a mascot, a rescued greyhound, who the students call ´Mr Bobby´. Mr Bobby is a genuine gentle giant and he often takes part in club activities such as sponsored walks and as a registered PAT dog, he is a regular visitor to a local care home as well as a visiting ´listener´ to children ´s reading groups!