We’ve built it for Winston – almost
We are almost there. We have built the new isolation block, completed four super kennels and finished off the support block, including the cattery sluice room. toilets, office, staff room and shower. We’ve installed £100,000+ of new waste treatment plant and had a new electricity supply installed to the Animal Centre. There are just a few other bits and pieces to complete, such as laying some paths and putting the field back into good order. We are hoping to have a formal opening ceremony later in 2020.
The Branch would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to this project, from individual donors, to the truly magnificent £304,380 given by the Millar Danks Trust and the original legacy from Mrs Barbara Denny that laid the foundations for this wonderful project.
The Project Winston “paws plaques” will be displayed for all to see, and if anyone would still like to “lend a paw”, sponsorship is still available – please click here.
These new buildings are a bricks-and-mortar tribute to the skill and dedication of everyone involved in the care, rehabilitation and rehoming of abused, neglected and unwanted animals in our local area. This is for Winston and all the animals that are still looking for the thing they want most – a loving forever home.
Project Winston News
November 2018
Appointment only continues as completion date put back
The completion date for our building works has had to be put back to 21 January 2019, so although we remain open, we will need to continue the viewing of animals by appointment only, until the new year.
Due to new Environment Agency requirements for disposing of our sewage, our old cesspit and soakaways need to be replaced by a new sewage treatment plant. Sourcing an acceptable system, together with unforeseen problems with our existing drains and bad weather in November, has delayed the completion of our project.
Because of the long lead times for such a complicated piece of kit, installation of the new sewage treatment plant will be done early next year. Our new isolation kennels and support block will be virtually completed by the end of this year, but the new four rehoming kennels will need to be fitted out after Christmas.
As all this will continue to cause some disruption, we will need to extend the appointment only system for viewing our animals until everything has been completed.
Thank you to all our supporters for their patience so far and we apologise for any inconvenience that this delay may cause.
September 2018
New isolation kennels complete – almost!
We are delighted to announce that the new two-kennel isolation block has been completed – but it won’t be able to be used properly until the new drainage system has been installed.
With one standard kennel and one extra large kennel, the new isolation block will have ample space for all types and sizes of dogs, including big guys like Winston the Newfoundland after whom Project Winston is named.
The iso block has its own stainless steel catering-quality kitchen plus storage, so everything can easily be kept clean and completely separate if we have dogs with contagious diseases.
Jean Short, Hon Chairman: “The new support block is really taking shape as well. The shell is watertight and the plasterers are in. The next phase, knocking down the old isolation block and starting on the four kennels, had been slightly delayed whilst our contractors, RG Carters, re-routed the electricity supply which also fed other rooms on site. But we’re back on track and hope to be only slightly later completing than we’d planned.”
Project Winston will allow the RSPCA Animal Centre to continue its work in rehabilitating and rehoming all sorts of animals, especially dogs, from the local area. Led by local contractor R G Carter, the build will replace six of the Animal Centre’s oldest dog kennels with up-to-date facilities, as well as building a new support block to include toilets, shower, office, staff room and a cattery sluice room.
The Branch is a separately registered charity and, despite already raising over £300,000 for Project Winston, is looking to raise the remaining funds through collections and asking supporters to organise fundraising events. The Branch has also created a “Helping Paws” buy a plaque scheme for anyone who would like a permanent commemoration of a beloved pet or person at the Animal Centre. For more information, click here.
Helping Paws – for Winston
Buy one of our lovely paws plaques and help us complete Project Winston, the replacement of six of the Animal Centre’s oldest dog kennels with up-to-date facilities.
We have three types of lovely paws plaques available.
Solid brass 4” paw – minimum donation £250
4″ blue acrylic paw – £50 minimum donation
£25 minimum donation for the 2″ blue acrylic paw plaque
In celebration or in loving memory, each plaque can be engraved with a short message of your choice.
The plaques will be put on permanent display in a public area at our Animal Centre in Martlesham.
We are a separately registered charity from the national RSPCA and our Trustees are all unpaid volunteers. Our animal welfare work is not paid for by the national RSPCA and in 2017 over 95% of our income came from our own fundraising efforts, donations and legacies. Project Winston will allow the wonderful staff and volunteers at our RSPCA Animal Centre to continue their work in rehabilitating and rehoming all sorts of animals, especially dogs, from the local area.
For details of how to buy a paw of your own, please click here.
July 2018
Appointments needed during building works
During Project Winston, from 28th May until 29th October 2018 inclusive, if you would like to visit the Centre to view or discuss any of our animals available for adoption, you’ll need to make an appointment. This is to allow staff and builders enough space to work.
If you would like to leave donations or visit the animal centre shop, there is no need to make an appointment; just visit during our normal opening hours. Our charity shops – at Hamilton Road, Felixstowe and Tacket Street and Reynolds Road in Ipswich, will also be delighted to receive donations.
Please call the Centre on 0300 999 7321 to book an appointment to see our animals.
To find out more about Project Winston – click here
Result! Latest totals are in
Here are some results from our lovely volunteers taking the RSPCA stall to various fundraising events around the area.
We’ll kick things off with a completely new event – the Fun Dog Show at Castle Hill Park on 9th June. With a lovely atmosphere and even lovelier dogs, we raised a magnificent £115.
Whitworth Vets Fairy Tale themed Open Day and Fun Dog show on 8 July was, as always, a lively event and raised £86.75. Many thanks to Jean, Sue and Bekkie for running the stall and a huge thank you to Whitworth vets for inviting us and donating a share the takings from the gate, raffle and refreshments to our rebuild campaign, Project Winston.
On the same day, Stephen and Mary took a selection from the main stall to the Woodbridge Royal British Legion Centenary Commemoration of the Ending of WW1 and raised £34. Full marks to the band, standard bearers, performers and cadets for holding it all together on such a scorching day.
Martlesham Fete on 14 July raised an excellent £122.90. Many thanks to the organisers for putting on such an entertaining, friendly and well supported event and it was lovely to meet several dogs who had been adopted from the MAC.
The following day saw the stall at a new event for us, Old Newton Village Fayre. We raised £55.60 which wasn’t bad considering how hot it was and that we were in competition with the tennis and some football competition final. Many thanks to Becky for her help on the day.
All the monies raised go directly to helping animals in our local area.
June 2018
Project Winston begins!
After years in the planning, Project Winston has started on site. The first works began on 29th May, after a quick photoshoot with staff, Trustees and volunteers from the Animal Centre and staff from the contractors, RG Carter. Jean Short (our Hon Chairman) and Paul Segger (General Works Manager, RG Carter) were wielding the spades, but Blue, a beautiful lurcher who is looking for his forever home, stole the show.
If you’d like more information on hosting a money-raising event or sponsoring the Project Winston build, please take a look at the Project Winston section here on our website or contact Kate Grimwood at kate.grimwood@rspca-ipswich.org.uk / 01449 614057.
May 2018
Many thanks to Girlguiding Suffolk
Many thanks to Girlguiding Suffolk for inviting us to their Spring into Suffolk event on 22nd April at the wonderful Easton Farm Park. This was the first Girlguiding Suffolk members day for all sections and we think over 1000 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides – along with their Leaders – turned out for a glorious day of activities, music and song. We raised £180.80 towards our Project Winston building campaign.
Project Winston – start date set!
Great news! Project Winston is due to start on site on 29th May, when the contractors, RG Carter, will set up the site for the first works to begin the following week. All being well, the whole project will be completed by 12 October 2018.
We have received £316,586 in donations and legacies towards the £420,000 total, and we’re aiming to fundraise £100,000 by holding collections at our events, running a “buy a brick” style sponsorship scheme and asking our supporters to organise fundraising events on our behalf.
If you’d like more information on hosting an event for us or sponsoring the Project Winston build, please contact Kate Grimwood at kate.grimwood@rspca-ipswich.org.uk or call 01449 614057.
The more money we raise externally, the more money is left in Branch funds for the future running of the Animal Centre and Welfare Clinic.