The Island’s RSPCA branch is appealing for volunteers to help in its charity shops as it continues its battle to raise funds during the pandemic.
The charity, which operates independently and has to raise all of its own funds, has already had to close 2 of its shops; in Freshwater and in Ryde, and now needs more volunteers to help in its remaining stores in Newport, Ventnor, Sandown and Cowes.
The shops provide a steady source of income for the charity to help fund the vital work it does to rescue, rehabilitate or rehome vulnerable animals on the Island, including domestic, farm and wild animals and birds.
Its volunteers help with a range of duties from sorting stock, pricing, labelling, steaming items, producing window and internal displays, cleaning and tidying and general support to open and close the stores.
Isle of Wight Branch Manager, Suzanne Pugh said:
“Our funds have been hit hard by the pandemic, in part due to the closure of our charity shops which provide such a vital source of income and we have sadly lost two stores as a result of our ongoing cash crisis. We were so happy that many of our past volunteers have returned to the team however we have started a recruitment drive as we do need more help.
“Our volunteers are the beating heart of our charity shops and without them we simply cannot function. Those donated hours sorting books and bric-a-brac or steaming and pricing clothing for display all go towards ensuring an abandoned, abused or neglected animal on the Island can be looked after and rehomed.”
Suzanne also praised the community’s response to their recent appeals saying:
“The community has been so generous with their donations of unwanted goods to our stores and we have some fantastic items, from Halloween costumes to small electricals and gifts for Christmas. With the help of extra volunteers, we hope this can generate some much needed funds.”
The stores are currently operating reduced opening hours to help maintain the additional cleaning protocols, so they remain compliant with COVID-19 regulations. Staff and volunteers are provided with PPE and training and visitors are limited in number at any one time and have access to hand sanitising stations.
Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering in one of the charity’s four shops, should contact the RSPCA on 01983 824058 or via email to [email protected].
from an online article…
The RSPCA accounts show that in the year to December 2018, the RSPCA’s highest earner took home up to £229,999, a £30,000 rise on the previous year. The charity would not say who this was. Its current chief executive Chris Sherwood, who took up the role in August last year, is on a salary of £150,000.
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Perhaps if the CEO and other leeches weren’t trousering so much of the donations for themselves, then they wouldn’t be short of cash to run the shops.
do not give these leeches anything -they just pocket most of it themselves.
That’s completely immoral and should be investigated! I will give my charity to another shop now! They get you by the awful adverts that I can’t watch. Never knew this information.