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Do YOU want to help make East Lancashire a better place for animals? 

● Are you passionate about animals and their welfare?

● Do you want to give rescued animals another chance in life?
● Do you have professional skills in accountancy, business management, community engagement, event management, financial planning, fundraising, marketing, people management, project development & implementation or retail development? 
● Do you live in or near East Lancashire?


The RSPCA Lancashire East Branch (the Branch) is seeking to recruit up to four new Trustees to join the existing Trustee Board and help steer the charity forward after what has been a turbulent start to the year.

Details of how to apply are at the bottom of the page

What does the Branch do?

The RSPCA Lancashire East Branch is a self-supporting registered charity, supported by a small team of professional staff who undertake the day-to-day work of the organisation.  

 

The Branch area covers East Lancashire, the Ribble Valley and the surrounding area. We operate the RSPCA Lancashire East Branch Animal Centre (aka Altham Animal Centre), just outside Accrington, which rehabilitates and rehomes dogs and cats rescued by the RSPCA Inspectorate.


The animal welfare services that we offer include:


● support and assistance to the RSPCA Inspectorate officers working within the local area
● rehabilitation and rehoming of animals rescued from cruelty or neglect

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To enable our Branch to offer these services, the Branch not only operates a charity shop in Burnley, but also undertakes a number of fundraising activities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Recent Events

The last few months have seen the charity go through a period of immense upheaval, cashflow issues meant the Branch entered 2026 with reserves of just £80,000 and with a forecast deficit of £180,000 in the current year.

 

The Trustee Board had to announce the potential closure of the animal centre if vital funds could not be raised.

 

The Save Our Centre Appeal was launched just six weeks before the planned closure and the response from the local community was overwhelming and money flooded in.

 

In just three months the Appeal raised over £110,000 and this overwhelming support together with a large legacy and major donation has provided the funding to keep the centre open.

 

The Board now needs additional help to move the Branch into a far more sustainable position to help build on this lifeline and secure the centre's future.

Future Plans

Our plans for the next few years include the need to:

 

  • better engage with the local community to increase support and help pet owners make informed, responsible choices about pet ownership whilst promoting the joy and reward of adopting a rescued animal

  • build on opportunities for our dedicated staff & volunteer team to develop their skills and deliver positive, proactive rehabilitation and rehoming opportunities whether in the animal centre or home environment

  • develop our facilities and help the charity deliver new sustainable services which benefit both animals and communities alike 

 

But we can only do this with a vibrant local Trustee Board committed to the area and developing services that support the vital work of the RSPCA inspectorate by rehabilitating and rehoming animals at risk.

How Will I Help the Charity in the Role?

As a member of the Board you will have a unique opportunity to shape the future growth and development of the charity as we seek to refresh and renew the Trustee Board to help steer the charity forward at a very exciting time.

 

The professional skills, knowledge and experience you bring will help us grow the charity as we seek to develop sustainable animal welfare services and shape the longer-term strategic direction of the charity.

What Are We Looking For?

We want the Trustees to be drawn from all social and cultural backgrounds so the Board truly reflects and represents the local community, in particular we are wanting people with experience and skills in any of the following areas:

​

  • accountancy​

  • business management

  • community engagement

  • event management

  • financial planning

  • fundraising

  • marketing

  • project development & implementation

  • people management 

  • and/or general business experience

 

It is hoped to recruit up to four new Trustees to join the existing Board and provide the leadership and governance oversight to develop a far more sustainable operational model for the charity.

Branch Officers

In particular we are seeking to recruit both a Treasurer and Secretary to support the existing Chair in their role as Officers of the Branch.

Specialist Skills

In the future, it is hoped that Trustees with particular specialist professional skill sets will help to innovate and lead the delivery of RSPCA activities alongside our staff and volunteer team.

What We Can Offer In Return

We offer all Trustees:


● support from both local and national RSPCA staff
● the platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that have a direct impact

   on local animal welfare
● an opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals
● a way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people

Practical Considerations

Some things to note:


● you must be aged 18 or over and a member of the Branch for three months before you are eligible to be elected at the

   AGM (RSPCA membership is £24/year)
● Trustees are elected for a 12- month term each year
● reasonable expenses will be reimbursed
● Trustees must sign a Trustee Declaration of Willingness to Act to confirm that they are not disqualified from being a

    Trustee (more guidance can be found on the Charity Commission website)

How to Apply

Please read the Branch Trustee Role Outline (which can be downloaded by clicking on the arrow below) and then send a covering letter, explaining what you would bring to the role, along with a copy of your CV to:

 

 

*(n.b. letters and CVs will be shared by the CEO with the Chair of the Trustee Board and, if the application is taken further, other members of the Board)
 

Candidates will be contacted by the CEO (via email) to arrange an opportunity for them to visit the Branch to discuss the opportunity with the Chair of the Trustee Board & the CEO, tour the animal centre and learn more about the role.

Branch Trustee & Member of the Trustee Board 

Trustees manage the affairs of the RSPCA Lancashire East Branch (the Branch) to promote and provide animal welfare services within the designated local area.  

As a Trustee you will have the chance to influence how the RSPCA cares for and prevents cruelty to animals by contributing to the strategic development, governance and leadership of the Branch.  

​For a more detailed role outline click the arrow

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