Algernon Trust Christmas Appeal 2014

The Algernon Trust in Whittlebury near Towcester, is appealing for people to remember the animals at the sanctuary this Christmas.

Christmas is a tough time, everyone is short of funds & this time of year seems an increase in the animals needing our help - we receive no funding for our work & rely on fundraising work & donations

The Animal Sanctuary was set up over twenty years ago when the founder Jane Shepherd moved to Whittlebury near Towcester. For the first eleven years it was a purely private enterprise paid for entirely out of her own pocket.
As the Sanctuary grew over the years, and having exhausted all of Jane's personal finances, the Algernon Trust was established in 2001 as a non-profit organisation in order to raise funds to keep the sanctuary going. Today the Sanctuary is well known and respected. It has achieved registered charitable status and has been entered into the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1151827.
In 1991 Jane arrived with just five feral cats, one fox and one rabbit. Today there are usually at least sixty cats, more than twenty dogs, plus foxes and assorted poultry in the Trust's care. 

The Trust re-homes cats and dogs where possible but many of the cats Jane takes in are sick and/or elderly who need to remain at the Sanctuary for the rest of their days. Currently there are over twenty residents. The Trust has become as much a hospice and retirement home for cats as a re-homing centre, and caring for sick and elderly feline friends puts an enormous strain on the Trust's finances. The Trust has a permanent fostering scheme for elderly cats under which all vet bills are covered and food and cat litter can be provided to people wishing to provide a comfortable, loving home to an old cat.

Animals are taken in from a wide area not just from Northamptonshire and adjacent counties but from all over the country.  Jane has no age restriction and has taken in cats over 20 years old.  All animals are neutered, vaccinated and micro chipped before being rehomed, all at the expense of the Algernon Trust.

The Trust only has 4 kennels, all donated, plus the old ferret pen for emergencies.  Foster homes are relied on to provide temporary care for dogs and cats awaiting adoption. Sometimes it is necessary to keep dogs at private boarding kennels to ensure they are not put to sleep when the Sanctuary is full.  The kennels are paid for by the Trust.  Foster carers make a huge difference, not only does this reduce the cost of boarding kennels but it enables the dogs to live in a home environment until such time that they find their permanent homes. Fosterers provide love and food for the animals and the Trust provides support and covers vets bills.

  

The Trust has to fund supplies for the day to day needs of the animals in its care along with vets bills & kennel costs as they arise and has to rely on membership and donations & people who support the charity by fundraising

Collars; leads; pet stockings; cozy blankets; treats; sturdy toys; food will all make great gifts for the animals & as ever all donations are greatly appreciated.  Donations can be handed in or sent directly to the Trust in Whittlebury or made through Amazon, which will be delivered directly to the Trust’ door, www.amazon.co.uk/registry/wishlist/3D7XY9TZZBEJK

Financial donations don't have to be large amounts, every little helps, lots of members send small regular amounts & these really help the work of the trust, Regular standing orders for £1 or £2 are very much appreciated and can be sent to The Algernon Trust Bank; Sort Code: 40-44-26; Account No: 01213636 or by paypal to donate@algernontrust.org.uk

You can also donate £5 by text, texting BOWE50 £5 to 70070 - or any amount you wish!

We are running a shoebox appeal & asking people to fill a shoebox for the animals for Christmas, your shoebox can be for dogs, cats or both & will be shared out between the animals at the Sanctuary, the dogs in boarding kennels & the animals in foster - if your box is for a specific animal then please mark their name clearly on your box.

We are asking for people to act as a collection point for donations & shoeboxes for the Christmas appeal, if you would be happy to act as a collection point then please do let us know by email to lisa.kershaw@algernontrust.org.uk

Instead of sending Christmas cards, add your family Christmas message on our blog & help us raise funds at the same time!  Send your donation by paypal to donate@algernontrust.org.uk along with your message & a picture if you wish! The blog will be published early December

You can follow the Christmas Appeal by searching on Facebook for the event ‘Algernon Trust Christmas Appeal’ and on our Just Giving Page at www.justgiving.com/algyxmas14

Collection Points for Donations & Shoeboxes

Nicola - 1 Belle Baulk Towcester NN12 6YH 01327 354504 or 07825 700490
Nicola - Towcester Vehicle Services School Road Pattishall NN12 8NE 01327 830647 or 07825 700490
Caz - NN4 - 07906441152
Sue - OX16 (Easington area) 07901219219
Greenpeace Kennels - Spalding, PE12 6SA
Jacqui - NN11 - 07970 536003

Terri - Inkantations Tattoo Studio - 11a Sponne Shopping Centre, Watling Street, Towcester  NN12 6BY - 01327 358700

Annie - Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5AN, 01908 321428 or 07519 5610896
Stephanie  NN11 4TH Southbrook area of Daventry - 07930581347
The Bell Inn, 103 High St, Brackley. NN13 7BN the phone number is 01280 702489 (this is an answerphone)
Gary Watling Travis Perkins, Buckingham MK18 1TG, phone number is 01280 816029 (ask for Gary)Bev Millward, Shenley Lodge, MK5 7EW - 07793637700