Why is it essential that this work is carried out?

Our Animal Centre dates back to the 1960s and over time our buildings have become very tired and run down. We have done our best to make do and mend whilst keeping the care of the animals our priority but it is now clear that we are facing major costs just to keep a roof over the animals’ heads.

How much money needs to be raised and by when?

We are aiming to secure total funds of £1.5 million in order for us to complete all the work that we need to do. A main source of funding will be a fundraising appeal with an initial target to raise £250,000 by the end of 2016.

The RSPCA Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Branch is a local independent charity, separate from the national RSPCA. We are therefore responsible for raising all the money needed to both keep the animal centre open and pay for the improvements. This means that our fundraising efforts for the rebuild appeal have to be in addition to our normal day-to-day fundraising activities.

What do we have planned?

Our aim is to have a fully modernised and updated animal centre. This will be delivered through a combination of rebuilding and refurbishment and is subject to the achievement of our funding objectives.

The project will be completed in stages and we will be seeking to remain operational as far as we possibly can during the programme of work. The new facilities will be at the forefront of animal welfare benefitting the wide variety of animals that come into our care.

Our plans will include new animal accommodation based on the latest thinking in animal behaviour and care, specialist facilities for the care of sick and injured animals, and improvements to the visitor experience and accessibility.  Our first step this year is to create new state-of-the-art pens for the rabbits as their current accommodation is no longer fit for purpose.  Our main project to then follow is the redevelopment of the kennels for dogs.

What would happen if the work wasn’t carried out?

For more than 50 years we have been proud to be the local animal shelter for the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire area, taking in animals in need and finding them new, permanent, loving homes. Over the decades we have helped many thousands of abused, unwanted and abandoned animals.

Ultimately, if we cannot carry out the improvement work needed, the situation could reach a stage where we would be forced to close our doors. This would be a huge loss to animal welfare and would take away a vital lifeline for animals in desperate need of help.

However, we have always been grateful for the amazing support given to us by the people of our local area and have every faith that they will continue to help us as we enter the next and very exciting chapter in our long history enabling us to achieve an Animal Centre that will remain at the heart of the community for many years to come.

In addition, much of the accommodation is now understandably outdated. It is therefore essential that we take action to create new facilities that offer the animals the best in current welfare standards and take the Animal Centre forward into future.

How can people donate?

There are two main ways in which people can donate. Firstly, donations can be made in person, by post or telephone to our Animal Centre at 137 Spital Lane, Chesterfield, S41 0HL (Tel: 01246 273358). Secondly, people can donate online via our just giving appeal webpage at www.justgiving.com/chesterfieldanimalcentrereuildappeal.  Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for our charity.

Cheques need to be made out “RSPCA Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Branch”

Special rebuild appeal fundraising packs are also available from the Animal Centre or via our website at www.chesterfieldrebuildappeal.org.uk. They are full of fundraising suggestions and ways that people can get involved.

Other information

This appeal is to raise money for the RSPCA Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Branch (Registered charity no. 226142).  Every year the RSPCA Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Branch cares for around 1000 animals that may have been abused, neglected or abandoned.  We need your help to continue to look after and rehabilitate these animals before we can find them loving new homes.  Your support will give an animal a second chance and provide a safe environment for abused, abandoned or mistreated animals.  You won't be helping one animal, you'll be helping the lives of all who pass through our animal centre for years to come.

We want to raise money to carry out building and maintenance work at our Chesterfield Animal Centre.  Once this aim has been achieved, or if any reason the money cannot be used for this purpose, then any unused or surplus funds will be used for our charity's general charitable aims including care for animals in need.