This one is not for individuals. It is for the rescues, sanctuaries and welfare groups that take in animals, and it is a recurring Department fund rather than a one-off.
If you run or volunteer with a small rescue that has never applied, the standards below are the whole gate — and most of them are things a well-run rescue already does but has never written down.
Quick facts
- Who
- Animal welfare groups and rescues, not individuals
- Scale
- More than 100 organisations funded in 2019
- You must be
- A registered charity
- You must have
- Facilities, expertise, transport, a re-homing policy and a holding-time policy
- Runs
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
What it is
"Animal welfare groups can apply for funding to help them carry out their work. More than 100 organisations across the country received funding in 2019."
That number matters if you run a small rescue and assume this is for the big national charities. It is not a handful of awards.
The operational standards
"In order to receive funding animal welfare organisations have to meet a series of operational standards to ensure the funds are used effectively." Organisations should:
"be a registered charity"
"have appropriate facilities and the necessary expertise to manage rescued animals"
"have transport available to enable them to respond to calls for assistance"
"have an active re-homing policy."
"have a policy which clearly states the maximum period of time for which they will hold an animal."
The last two are the ones small groups most often fail on — not because they do not re-home, but because the policy exists in somebody's head rather than on paper. Writing them down is the cheapest work in this list.
Common questions
Who can apply for animal welfare funding?
Animal welfare groups and organisations, not individuals. They must meet a series of operational standards set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Do we have to be a registered charity?
Yes. Being a registered charity is one of the operational standards organisations should meet to receive funding.
What policies do we need?
An active re-homing policy, and a policy which clearly states the maximum period of time for which you will hold an animal. Both need to exist in writing.
How many organisations get funded?
More than 100 organisations across the country received funding in 2019, so it is not limited to a handful of large charities.