Battersea has a strategic long-term
commitment to increase
our impact for animals, helping
as many dogs and cats as we
can, and much of our work now
stretches far beyond our physical
centres. In a year when many
rescues across the world were hit
hard, this work remained vital as
we strive to make a real, practical
difference to the lives of even
more dogs and cats.
One of the ways we do this
is by supporting many smaller
rescues, shelters, and charities
to continue helping animals in
need in local communities both in
the UK and beyond. By providing
training and financial support
to these organisations, we
enable them to work effectively,
efficiently, sustainably, and to
the highest possible welfare
standards. This helps ensure that
Battersea has a positive, lasting
impact on even more dogs and
cats, year after year.
In 2020, the Battersea
Academy’s e-learning capabilities
were accelerated in response to
the pandemic and considerable
content was redesigned for online
delivery. Thanks to this rapid
response, the Academy was able
to deliver 27 programmes and
webinars, which were attended
by 467 delegates from 146 UK
and international organisations,
and 11 dog wardens from five
local authorities.
Delegates of Academy
intensive programmes reported
in 2020 that 6,419 animals had
benefitted from changes they
had made to their practice or
facilities, inspired by learnings
taken from the various Academy
courses they had attended since
its conception in 2018.
Both our Dog/Cat Intensive
programmes and our one-day
Introductory programmes received
City & Guilds Assured status in
2020, and we launched a new
‘Check-in & Chat’ session to
provide UK and international
rescues with the opportunity to
raise topics with a Battersea
expert, as well as share best
practice in an informal setting.
IN FOCUS - Global Impact
One international rescue organisation
that our Academy programme has
been able to help is DogTown South
Africa. Still a relatively young charity
having been established in 2019,
and with few other shelters in the
country sharing the same mindset,
DogTown looked overseas to charities
that it had seen making a difference
to the lives of dogs coming into their
care. This was where the Battersea
Academy came to light.
Tracy McQuarrie, Founder of
DogTown, says, “I cannot explain
how thrilled we were to attend the
week-long intensive dog rescue
and rehoming workshop. We came
away with the knowledge we were
searching for and, when we returned
to South Africa, we set about putting
it into place with added help from a
Battersea grant, which allowed us to
update our facilities.
“I totally underestimated the
impact Battersea’s support would
have on us. We run our centre
completely differently now — we save
more lives; we have less animals
within the centre, but adoptions are
higher; and we have procedures
in place for every activity within
the centre. We are determined to
continue to grow and help more dogs
and more rescue workers out there
and are on a mission to change
animal rescue in our country to be
more like the Battersea way.”
Tracy adds, “Since the intensive
rehoming workshop, we have
attended many more of Battersea’s
online workshops on varied topics,
from basic animal behaviour to
writing a successful grant application
and digital marketing. Every single
workshop we’ve attended has put
us on the right track to save even
more animal lives in South Africa.
Even during the difficult times of
the pandemic, we have been guided
and given extra tools to not just
survive but thrive.”
Helping More Animals
Through Grants
The pandemic hit rescues across the world. For many, funds began
to dry up and — across the UK and internationally — smaller rescue
organisations faced a worrying and uncertain future.
At Battersea, we could not stand by and watch so, as part of the
Academy work last year, we committed to providing funding to other
organisations and 41 grants were awarded across eight countries,
totalling £450,000 — 29 in the UK and 12 to overseas organisations.
Since Battersea started our Grants programme in 2018, we have
indirectly helped more than 43,100 animals worldwide.
Having recognised the detrimental effects of the pandemic on the
wider rescue sector, Battersea also led the establishment of the ADCH
Coronavirus Emergency Fund and its subsequent management. This
secured additional funding from organisations including the PetPlan
Charitable Trust, Mars Petcare and Dogs Trust. From more than 150
applications received, 54 grants were awarded, nd initial reports
indicate that more than 3,000 animals benefitted.
A first external evaluation of the Academy and Grants programmes
was commissioned, in which researchers conducted interviews with
a sample of organisations that received grant support, attended the
intensive Academy course, or both. The evaluation confirmed the
positive impacts already apparent and recommended additional support
Battersea can provide to help organisations.
The researchers stated: “Over just a couple of years, Battersea
has undoubtedly developed an effective, influential strategy with
positive change outcomes that directly affect the animals the centres
support. The use of its Grants and training programmes are key,
successful methods which have influenced and changed behaviour and
practice positively as they relate to animal welfare.”
IN FOCUS - Invaluable Impact
For WADARS Animal Rescue
in Sussex, funding courtesy
of a Battersea grant enabled
the organisation to fit out its
brand-new cattery and, in
2020, purchase a new animal
ambulance and other vital
equipment. Tracy Cadman,
Operations Manager, says, “When
I went on the Academy five-day
intensive course, we were just
about to start building our cattery.
Seeing the Battersea cattery was
really useful, even down to simple
things such as how the pens are
set up. Following the Academy
programme, we applied for a
Battersea grant, which enabled
us to kit out our new cattery.
Because we were starting from
scratch, everything had to be
bought; litter trays, water and
food bowls, beds, scratch posts,
even the kitchen equipment to
store and prep food. The impact
of having our own cattery has
been massive, and the support
we’ve had from Battersea —
grants, partnership working,
advice — has been invaluable to
us as a small charity.”
Our Animal Partnerships team works
with many different dog and cat
charities and rescues all over the
country to provide the best outcome
for animals in need of homes. In total,
274 dogs were received last year from
Local Authority dog wardens, and 342
dogs and cats were received from other
rescue organisations.
Throughout 2020, we were able
to place 50 cats in rural outlets such as
farms and stable yards. We also worked
collaboratively with Cats Protection
to trap, neuter, and release 66 feral
cats in rural Sussex. Five dogs were
placed in working outlets, while 33 dogs
requiring specialist homes were placed
with breed rescues.
IN FOCUS - Supporting Other Rescue Centres
Last autumn, the RSPCA’s Sussex, Chichester and District branch reached
out to Battersea for help with one of their long-term feline residents, Cliff. The
ten-year-old Domestic Shorthair was FIV-positive and stressed by the cattery
environment, so in October he was brought to our London centre where he
could be placed in a more secluded pen. Staff worked tirelessly to keep Cliff
as comfortable and stress-free as possible while he underwent veterinary
treatment at our clinic, and, in time, he began to show a more sweet and
affectionate side. Although he became a calmer cat during his time with us,
Cliff still wasn’t entirely happy with cattery life so our Communities team
arranged for him to stay with a Community Rehoming Volunteer where he
could enjoy some home comforts. After seven weeks in Battersea’s care,
Cliff was rehomed to a wonderful couple who wanted to offer a cat a relaxing
home in which to spend their days in comfort, peace and quiet.
