Raised so far
- About
What Is The Really Big ReFURb?
Our Wade Street Animal Centre has been a lifeline for animals in need for decades — but our site is now outdated and no longer meets modern welfare standards, putting us at the very real risk of having to close our doors for good. Animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do, with the needs of the animals we care for shaping every single aspect of our work, and we believe that the animals arriving in our care deserve only the best facilities.
That’s why we’re launching The Really Big ReFURb, a vital project to rebuild and transform our centre for the staff, volunteers, our incredible local community and most importantly, for the animals. Years of careful financial planning have allowed us to finally begin this momentous project to turn our centre into a beacon of excellence, where the facilities match the care provided - and now we are calling on your help to make the project a reality.
Why we're doing this now:
We care deeply about giving every animal the very best possible experience — especially while they wait to find their forever home. However, our current facilities make this harder than it should be. With your help, we can:
- Create warmer, safer, and more comfortable spaces for animals in our care
- Support staff and volunteers with safer, better working environments
- Offer calmer, more private spaces for adoption meetings and visits
- Build a welcoming, energy-efficient centre that’s fit for the future
- Stay open during the rebuild and keep helping animals every single day
- Ensure every future animal that comes into our care feels as safe and relaxed as possible. Hopefully leading to faster adoption rates and less time in shelter.
Our Goal:
Our goal is, and always has been, to help every animal find their perfect home! Our new facilities will make that process much more welcoming and effective.
- Calmer animals = higher rehoming rates, helping our animals transition from rescue to forever homes as quickly as possible.
- Dedicated viewing spaces – so families can meet animals in a peaceful, private environment... a home away from home
- Quieter areas for paperwork and briefings, helping our dedicated team manage adoptions swiftly and effectively
- A proper meeting room for confidential discussions with adopters, staff, or national RSPCA teams
Better adoption spaces mean smoother, more positive experiences for animals, families, and staff.
How is this happening & what is the urgency?
We are rebuilding in stages to stay open throughout the work. With other local RSPCA branches being forced to reduce their intakes, or even close entirely, due to funding crises, our services are more important than ever before, and it is crucial that we continue to provide them during the project.
The services we provide as a local branch support not only the local community, but animals across the country too. 25% of our intake in 2024 was from outside our branch region, so closing the centre entirely during the refurbishment is simply not an option.
With this in mind, we aim to complete the project by July 2027 and to achieve this, we must raise £3.8 million.
We can't do this without your help...
Please Support Us:
Whether you donate, sponsor an animal during their stay with us, fundraise for us, or simply spread the word, you’re helping give local RSPCA rescue animals the calm, safe and nurturing environment they deserve. This is more than a rebuild — it’s a fresh start for every animal who comes through our doors and a path to much brighter future for years to come!
Please stand with us, however you can - without our loyal supporters, we simply wouldn’t exist and animals at risk would not receive the help they need. We are truly grateful for your ongoing and future support.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Fundraising pack - full pack coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
