HERE FOR EVERY DOG AND CAT ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CONTENTS 1: WHO WE ARE 4 WELCOME TO BATTERSEA 6 OUR PROMISE 8 WHAT WE DO 12 OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS 14 COPING WITH A CRISIS 16 2: OUR WORK 18 DIRECTLY HELPING MORE DOGS AND CATS 20 REFRAMING RESCUE 24 OUR VOICE 28 INCREASING OUR IMPACT 32 OUR ENABLERS 36 3: OUR FINANCES 40 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE 42 4: LOOKING FORWARD 46 THE YEAR AHEAD 48 OPEN TO ALL 52 5: OUR SUPPORTERS 54 THANK YOU 56 OUR PARTNERS 57 WHO’S WHO 58 Left: Our dedicated teams of clinic, kennel and cattery staff work tirelessly to give our animals every ounce of care they need during their time with us. BATTERSEA ANNUAL REPORT 2020 3 1 WHO WE ARE who we are Welcome to battersea WELCOME TO BATTERSEA For 160 years, Battersea has been at our centres, but many thousands 2020 was due to be a celebratory materialise in 2021 and we continue to here for dogs and cats. We’ve built a more beyond our gates. year in which we marked our 160th look beyond our gates to help animals reputation for being a leader in our I would like to thank my fellow anniversary with a series of events to outside our traditional heartland. In field, a driver for change and a voice for Trustees for their support, our bring together friends and supporters. 2020 our Academy, Grant Giving and vulnerable animals. Despite significant incoming Chief Executive, Peter Laurie, Instead, it was a year that united the Animal Partnerships programmes disruption and ongoing uncertainty, our Directors and our Battersea Battersea family in a very different way. delivered considerable impact for 2020 was a year in which Battersea Ambassadors Sarah Fisher, David The Covid-19 pandemic forced dogs and cats in the UK and beyond, truly led the way for the rescue sector. Gandy, Tom Hardy, Anthony Head, us to close our centres to public and we will continue and expand this From helping new pet owners Amanda Holden, Paul O’Grady MBE visitors for the first time in our going forward. through a turbulent landscape to and Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE. history. While we remained open for Battersea is just one in a network speaking out for the sector and Battersea is also ever grateful to HRH emergencies and those that needed of hundreds of rescue organisations, establishing an emergency support The Duchess of Cornwall, our Patron, us most, a rapid crisis response was large and small, across the country. fund to help other organisations, we and our President, HRH Prince Michael implemented across the organisation. In many respects this crisis has ensured that we continued to care for of Kent, who both remain an enduring It is the impressive speed and great galvanised the rescue sector, driven every dog and cat that still needed support for everything we do. consideration with which this was new collaborations and, in some ways, us and many thousands of animals My sincere gratitude goes to carried out, for both our people and brought about positive change to how across the world. my predecessor, Amanda Burton, animals, that makes me honoured to be organisations support each other and, Our passionate and committed who chaired our Board of Trustees a member of the Battersea team. ultimately, help more animals. staff acted with tremendous speed and and steered Battersea through a Colleagues across our charity I am proud of Battersea’s work to agility to manage the unfolding situation remarkable period of growth. I would rose to the challenge, without any be there for our sector colleagues, both as the country entered a national also like to pay special thanks to hesitation. I would like to put on record through our own direct endeavours and lockdown. We were there to help when Claire Horton CBE, who stepped down my sincere thanks to all of Battersea’s via the Association of Dogs and Cats animals were abandoned with nowhere as Chief Executive in January after staff and volunteers. Their hard Homes. Animal intake continues to be Above: Paul Baldwin with Battersea dog, Above: Peter Laurie with his own Battersea else to go. We worked harder than ever 11 incredible years in which she led work and commitment showed great a challenge for all rescue and rehoming Daisy, at our London centre. dog, Wilson, at our Old Windsor centre. before to champion responsible pet the transformation of Battersea. Her resilience. I would also like to welcome organisations, and the resulting animal buying and ownership, collaborating passion, energy and drive truly inspired our new Chairman, Paul Baldwin, whose welfare implications of the pandemic with the Government and other charities our staff and volunteers, and she extensive experience in leading animal could yet be profound. But both as an to further improve animal welfare. We leaves a strong and lasting legacy. welfare organisations on a global scale individual organisation and as part of a were there to take in animals from other We currently stand at the will be invaluable in helping our charity strongly united sector, we will continue organisations and, most of all, we were midpoint of our 2019−2023 strategy. achieve its strategic goals. to be here for every dog and cat. there to keep on reminding the public As the page closes on our landmark While it would be impossible This report acts not only as a why Rescue is Best. 160th anniversary year and we move to look back on 2020 without the record of our achievements in the face On a personal note, it was a very into 2021, we are looking forward to pandemic taking precedence, it is also of adversity, but as documentation of pertinent time to join this incredible continuing to help the most unfortunate important to acknowledge the steps how our care for dogs and cats remains charity as Chairman. In the first few and unwanted dogs and cats in society. we made towards a brighter future unconditional. We move forward into weeks alone, I witnessed first-hand Especially in these still for rescue animals everywhere. The 2021 with hope for a better year ahead the outstanding efforts being put in somewhat uncertain times we all growing positive reaction to our Rescue and the reassurance that, whatever the across the organisation, and it fills me currently face; Battersea will strive Is Our Favourite Breed campaign future may have in store, Battersea will with increasing pride to see how we’re harder than ever before to continue reflects our determination to deliver be ready to do its very best. using our knowledge to help other honouring our promise to be here for long-term change in attitudes towards Thank you for your continued rescue organisations. every dog and cat. rescue animals. This proved particularly support and your interest in our work. I was also moved to see just how relevant in 2020, as we witnessed unfaltering the support of Battersea’s growing demand for ‘pandemic regular donors, individual givers, puppies’, and overwhelming numbers legacy pledgers and corporate partners seeking pets as lockdown companions. remained during such challenging While the number of animals we times. Their loyalty has allowed us to both took in and rehomed last year fell stay resilient throughout the pandemic, Paul Baldwin due to Covid-19, we are prepared for Peter Laurie helping not only the animals that arrive Chairman whatever demands on our services may Chief Executive 6 BATTERSEA ANNUAL REPORT 2020 7 1 2 3 4 5 who we are OUR PROMISE OUR VISION Battersea is here for every dog and cat, and we believe they should have the chance to live where they are treated with compassion, care and respect. OUR MISSION We aim never to turn away a dog or cat in need of our help, ensuring they receive the best care possible no matter how long it takes to find them a place to live. We are experts in championing and supporting vulnerable dogs and cats, creating lasting change for animals and those who care for them, wherever they are. Right: At Battersea we do everything we can to ensure animals brought into our centres go on to find a new home where they are no less loved. 8 1 2 3 4 5 Our promise OUR VALUES Everything we do as individuals and teams, as vets and volunteers, nurses, animal care and rehoming staff, fundraisers and foster carers is underpinned by Battersea’s Values. CARE EXCELLENCE DETERMINATION We are passionate about the welfare We have been working tirelessly to We deal with some of the most of dogs and cats, and all our work is provide shelter for animals for 160 challenging situations that impact the inspired by the needs of, and our love years. We are one of the oldest lives of dogs and cats. We seek to for, animals. animal charities in the world and the tackle problems at source by working knowledge and experience we have actively with communities and wider gained has made us credible leaders society, challenging misconceptions in our field. and encouraging owners to take responsibility for their pets and treat animals humanely. We will not shy away from difficult issues. RESPECT INTEGRITY COMMITMENT We treat all animals and people We are trustworthy. We are indebted We strive to find every dog and cat a with respect and dignity. to our supporters and greatly value all loving home. We put no limit on the the donations given to us, ensuring that time an animal stays with us, and we they are carefully spent on providing the will never put an animal to sleep unless best possible future for animals.