Animal charity facing funds crisis warns it could be forced to close

A LONG-STANDING South Yorkshire animal charity has warned it could close within months as it faces a funding crisis.

South Yorkshire Animal Rescue, in Sheffield, nurses injured wildlife, including birds, squirrels and hedgehogs, before releasing the creatures back into the wild once they have recovered. The organisation has helped thousands of animals since being set up 35 years ago – including more than 60 stricken hedgehogs so far this year.

But it may be forced to close early next year without the public’s support to secure vital funds.

An appeal has been launched to raise at least £3,000, which the charity says is the minimum needed to keep it going in the short-term. In the longer term, committee member Phil Slack said more volunteers are required to ensure the charity can continue its good work.

“As things stand, if we don’t raise any money at all we will probably run out of funds in January or February at the latest,” he said.

“This appeal is just to keep us going long enough to put more permanent fundraising in place.

“The main problem is we no longer have enough volunteers to help with fundraising.

“We used to have a big group of people who would arrange events, but we’re down to about two people scrabbling around for whatever they can get.

“We’re probably the only surviving wildlife charity in this area. If we close, I don’t know what will happen to those animals.”

Amy Taylor, who launched the fundraising appeal on the JustGiving website, said: “Every donation will help keep them open and caring for animals a little longer. Please donate to this cause.”