Many thanks to everyone who attended or helped at our Christmas Fair at Holbrook Village Hall on Saturday 8 November. We raised a magnificent £1,630.39. That’s slightly more than we made last year, and no mean feat in these hard times.

Well done and many thanks to the volunteers who made the event happen:  Jane, Tim, Helen, Geoffrey, Katie, Diane, Mary and Stephen, especially for his soup. Jean, Sue, Diane, Susanne and Rebecca did sterling work on the refreshments, with more home-made cakes and savouries than ever before. Many thanks to our bakers. More thanks to Denice for bringing her delicious home-made cakes, jams and chutneys, John and Yvonne for their bric-a-brac stall and Carol for her selection of pre-loved items. Huge thanks to Maggie for donating two lovely hampers for our raffle.

Santa Paws made time in his busy pre-Christmas schedule to visit and have his picture taken with loads of lovely pups. He’ll be appearing again at our charity shop in Reynolds Road, Ipswich, on Saturday 13th December.

Along with our traditional raffle and tombola, we had a lovely range of high-quality craft goods, including Gnarly Oak hand carved wooden items, LV Bakery’s delicious doggy treats, and Cheryl’s Wildlife Photography. The latter donates 10% of sales to the Branch. These makers were joined by more local creators, including animal themed hand-sewn gifts, bespoke jewellery, Christmas ornaments and gift boxes.

Animals Asia joined us with their legendary hamper draw, and Sue brought her festive fundraising stall supporting her work rescuing and caring for hedgehogs.

Thanks to all who donated prizes and helped with setting up and dismantling at the end of the day.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list to get the latest e-news and updates on Branch activities, just send your details to supporters@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

Our Autumn quiz raised a magnificent £1,100.50 for the animals in our care. Many thanks to all who supported the event, especially our wonderful volunteers, without whom we could not put on these fundraising activities.

After a nail-biting tie-breaker question, the first in quizmaster memory, the 50%ers edged the Stargazers to the top prize, with the Woodentops taking third spot. Congratulations to them, and all the teams who took part.

As always, many thanks to Geoffrey for writing and hosting the quiz, Jean for scoring and to Kate for promoting and booking in the teams. Thanks also to the kitchen team of Katie, Diane, Lucy, Stephen and Mary, who cooked and served 100 piping hot baked potatoes, as well as selling raffle tickets on the night.

The raffle raised £232 (included in the total above), and we very much appreciate everyone who donated a prize.

The hall hire fee was donated by a regular supporter.

Our next event is our Christmas Fair at Holbrook Village Hall on 8 November where you can bring your dogs for a festive picture with Santa Paws. For more details, go to the events section, and if you would like to help out, please contact Jane on 07592 517836 or via volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

Our Open Day (7 Sept) raised £2267 for the animals in our care.

The total was less than the event raised last year, but, given the tightening economic circumstances, we are happy with the result and proud of all the staff, volunteers and stallholders who came together to make the day so enjoyable for all.  

Many thanks to Cllr Nigel Phipps, Mayor of Woodbridge, for being our guest dog show judge, and well done to Dog of the Day, Marmalade the Staffy.

More thanks to Gladwells for their stunning dog bed hamper, and P&R Locksmiths for sponsoring the dog show rosettes and trophy. Thanks also go to the stallholders who brought a wonderful range of quality goods.

We are also incredibly grateful to White Gold fish & chip van for stepping in at the last minutes and providing lovely fresh cooked hot food, including the best sausage and chips one stallholder had eaten in a long time!

As always, our thanks go to the volunteers who make fundraising events like these – along with store collections and quizzes – possible. If you think you might be able to help at future events, please contact volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

Our next event is our quiz on 18th October, and don’t miss our Christmas Fair at Holbrook Village Hall on Saturday 8th November. See our events sections for more details.

Can you help animals by helping raise money for their care?

We have several events coming up that will raise funds to help animals across Suffolk live happy, healthy lives and we are looking for volunteers to help make them a success.

Open Day and Fun Dog Show – Sunday 7 September – 11:30-3:30
Help with set up (from 8:30am), running stalls (logo, raffle, games, sales), and packing away (from 3:30pm)

Ipswich Half Marathon – 21 September – 8.00am to 11.00am
Marshalls – in Ipswich Town Centre or at Freston Boot

Collection at Framingham Coop – 27 September
2 shifts: 12 noon – 2 pm and 2pm – 4pm

Collection at Holbrook Coop –  11 October
2 shifts: 12 noon – 2 pm and 2pm – 4pm 

Autumn Quiz – Saturday 18 October – doors open 7:00pm
Setting out chairs and tables, helping in the kitchen (baking potatoes and serving customers) and putting away tables and chairs (from about 10:00pm)

If you can help with any of the following, that would be fantastic:

Joining us as a volunteer gives you the opportunity to use your skills, interests, and passion to help animals in a time and way that suits you.

If you’d like to come just to see what volunteering is like, we’d love to see you.

To help or get more information, please contact Jane on volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

Sadly, our Fun Dog show at Earl Stonham on Sunday (6 July) was beset by torrential rain and unexpected high winds. Despite having to move everything indoors, we managed take almost £400 to help animals in our care.

The field and the hall and the refreshments looked brilliant; it was such a shame the rain came down when it did and for as long as it did. The stallholders brought a fantastic range of quality hand-made goods and were cheerful despite the lack of customers. Thank you all.

Because the driving rain had made the field slippery, we took the unique step of amalgamating all the dog show rounds into one and having all seven entrants judged together, inside. Many thanks to Terry and Emma for being our judges. The overall “Dog of the Day” was Buchanan, who was described by one of the judges as “Cute, black and very well behaved!”

Our gratitude goes to the volunteers who make fundraising events like these possible. Thanks this time to: Susanne, Katie, Jan, Rebecca, Ian, Gill, Karen, Stephen, Mary, Helen, and John and Yvonne. Huge applause to our outstanding bakers, including Rachie, Lorna, Georgina and Marilyn.

To discover more about ways to volunteer with the Branch, please contact volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

Hopefully, the weather will be better for our next event, our annual Open Day and Fun Dog Show on Sunday 7 September at our Martlesham Animal Centre.

We are excited to announce that our first ever event in Aldeburgh has raised an astounding £650.84. Every penny will go to help animals in our Branch area.  

With the help of the Aldeburgh Town Clerk, Kim Puttock, we were able to stage a fun dog show and fete on the rugby pitch in Aldeburgh on Sunday. Many thanks to the rugby club who allowed volunteers and stallholders to use their lovely clubhouse during the event.

Despite a couple of squalls, there were many visitors, and the dog show was immensely popular. Guest judge was Councillor TJ Haworth-Culf, Mayor of Aldeburgh, who we hope didn’t get too wet! The overall “Dog of the Day” was a two-and-a-half-year-old mixed setter called Leo, who had been rescued from Zante Dogs, who had previously won the Second Chance (best rescue) class.  

Many thanks to Gladwells for a brilliant main raffle prize and P&R Locksmiths in Martlesham who kindly sponsored the rosettes and the Dog of the Day trophy.

More thanks go to the stallholders who brought a fantastic range of quality goods.

As always, our gratitude goes to the volunteers who make fundraising events like these – along with store collections and quizzes – possible. Many thanks: Jean, Geoffrey, Lorna, Marilyn, Karen, Jane, Lesley, Mark, Angela, Stephen, Mary, Rebecca and Diane. To discover more about ways to volunteer with the Branch, please contact volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

The first of this year’s traditional fundraising activities, our Spring Quiz, raised a grand total of £1019.45 to support our animal welfare work in Suffolk.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we’d like to thank our brilliant volunteers, without whom none of our events could happen. Many thanks to our excellent team of Stephen, Susanne, Diane, Katie, Colin and Mary, who set out the chairs and tables and went on to cook and serve almost 100 piping hot baked potatoes.

Thanks also to Geoffrey for writing and hosting the quiz, Jean for taking jokers and recording the scores, and to Kate for promoting and booking in the teams. The hall hire fee was donated by a regular supporter.

The raffle on the night raised £217 (included in the total above), and we very much appreciate everyone who donated a prize. Special mention to Diane who also ranged through the hall selling raffle tickets.

The podium places on the night went to:

1st place – 50 percenters with 108

2nd place – Heavenly Bodies with 107

3rd place – Woodentops with 102

Bringing up the rear were the gallant Fuzzy Ducks with a very creditable 83.

Keep an eye on our website for details of more quizzes and events this year, and if you would like to help out, please contact Jane on 07592 517836 or via volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk Without the hard work and enthusiasm of our volunteers, we would not be able to help the number of animals and families with pets that we do. Please consider joining our volunteer team, no matter how many or few hours you feel you can give.

Many thanks to everyone who attended or helped at our Christmas Fair at Holbrook Village Hall on Saturday 9 November. We raised an outstanding £1550 for our animals.


We had a lovely range of high-quality craft goods. Stallholders included Kat Root Art & Soap, Jules Whalesby Art, Gnarly Oak hand carved wooden items and Cheryl’s Wildlife Photography. The latter donates 10% of sales to the Branch. These makers were joined by more local creators, including animal themed novelties and jewellery, Christmas wreaths and sewn felt gifts.

Animals Asia joined us with their legendary hamper draw, and we had stalls with items from our RSPCA shops, bric-a-brac, jams, and chutneys. Many thanks to Carol, John, Yvonne, Denice and Layla for bringing such great items.

Huge thanks to everyone who made goodies for and served on our popular refreshments stall, especially Jean, Diane, Susanne, Karen, Chloe and Evelyn, and Stephen for his lovely soup.

Our gratitude also goes to Geoffrey, Richard and Helen, who ran the new goods stall, and Stephen and Katie on tombola and Rebecca and Tim for setting out the tables and chairs. Thanks to all who donated prizes and to Sue for promoting the event around the village.

If you want to be added to our mailing list to get the latest e-news and updates on Branch activities, just send your details to supporters@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

Many thanks to all who supported our Autumn quiz on Saturday 19 October; together we raised a magnificent £1292.39 for the animals in our care.

The “Heavenly Bodies” team won with 115 out of a possible total of 120. Congratulations, too, to the Happi Days team who brought up the rear.

Many thanks to Geoffrey for writing and hosting the quiz, Jean for scoring and to Kate for promoting and booking in the teams. The kitchen team of Katie, Susanne, Stephen and Mary, cooked and served over 100 piping hot baked potatoes, and many thanks to them. The hall hire fee was donated by a regular supporter.

The raffle on the night raised £257 (included in the total above), and we very much appreciate everyone who donated a prize.

Our next event is our Christmas Fair at Holbrook Village Hall on 9 November. For more details, go to the events section, and if you would like to help out, please contact Jane on 07592 517836 or email us on volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

We are delighted to reveal that our Open Day raised £2860 for the animals in our care.

Although the weather was much hotter than expected, our brilliant staff were thinking ahead of the game and moved the dog show rounds into the shade of the trees in our soon-to-be-built Dog Sensory Garden. We had a fabulous turnout and were excited to meet some dogs rehomed from our – and other – rescue centres.

Many thanks to Geoffrey Short for once again judging the show, with Caitlin from enable.services who are one of our new corporate sponsors. Skinner’s Pet Food at Stradbrooke kindly gave prizes to the winners, and the “Dog of the Day” was Poppy, a Cockerpoo who also won the Crossbreed with Character class.

We launched our refreshed Safe Haven scheme, whereby you can sponsor a pen for everything from dogs to birds, rabbits and cats to small furries, from just £5 a month. This is our own Branch sponsorship scheme and is the only one where all the money you give comes to us and the animals in our care. For more information, please click here. You can sign up in the name of a loved one (person or pet) or as a gift for a special someone.

A new RSPCA stall for this year was an end-of-season sale stall, with a selection of lovely clothes, accessories and bric-a-brac from our charity shops. Thanks to Layla and Debbie for making it look gorgeous and taking over £100 on the day. Please keep an eye out for more from our shops at future events.

Thanks also to the East of England Co-Op for donating vouchers to the raffle, and all the people who generously gave us raffle and tombola prizes.

As always, our thanks go to the volunteers who make fundraising events like these – along with store collections and quizzes – possible. If you think you might be able to help at future events, please contact volunteering@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk

More thanks go to the stallholders who brought a fantastic range of quality goods.

Our next event is our quiz on 19th October. See our events sections for more details.