As I sit down to write this Autumn update, I am filled with a mixture of pride, excitement and, if I am honest, just a touch of nerves! After years of planning, setbacks, and no small amount of perseverance, the diggers finally arrived at Little Valley on 15th September. This marks the start of the biggest building project in our history – and what a transformation it will bring.
Work has begun on our brand-new rabbitry, The Warren, alongside a completely remodelled reception, clinic and office area, which we are calling The Hub. At the same time, we are also installing a brand-new waste treatment system, an enormous job in its own right. We chose to undertake all three projects simultaneously, not only to save on costs, but more importantly to limit disruption and downtime for the animals in our care.
I must pay tribute to our staff and volunteers, who have shown remarkable resilience and good humour in preparing for this work. Together they cleared our existing reception, management offices, the old rabbitry, and several other areas of the shelter to make way for the trucks and machinery that now dominate the site. It has been no small task, and I am so grateful to them all.
For the duration of the works, we have had to adjust how we operate. We are taking in fewer dogs, who are now housed in quieter parts of the shelter; rabbits and small animals are on pause for now; and our ferrets have been moved into one of the kennel blocks. Cat admissions continue as normal, although with extra care to ensure they remain comfortable despite the noise and dust.
After a thorough tender process, we appointed local building contractors Fifields to deliver this ambitious project. They have already done a fantastic job converting our old store shed into a temporary reception, staff area, and managers’ offices – a space we will use for the next year while the works are completed. Once the building is finished, this shed will go on to serve as a new community and education hub, allowing us to welcome even more people through our doors in the future.
When all is said and done, we will have a truly modern, future-proof shelter that meets the RSPCA’s improved animal welfare standards, provides space for our growing team, and ensures we can deliver the very best care for animals in need.
Of course, a project of this scale comes at a cost – around £1.6 million in total. This is the single biggest investment in our 30-plus years as a shelter, and while the price tag is daunting, it is also absolutely necessary. COVID delays and the rising cost of construction have pushed the budget higher than originally planned, but thanks to careful financial management, generous gifts in wills, legacies, decades of kind donations from the people of Devon, and support from grants and trusts, we are finally able to make this dream a reality.
That said, it does mean drawing heavily on our financial reserves, leaving us more vulnerable in the short term. Yet I firmly believe this project will secure Little Valley’s future and give us the springboard we need to continue growing, adapting, and caring for generations to come.
This is a year of change for us all, and I ask for your patience and support as the work progresses. Please bear with us during the disruption, and do follow our updates as the new buildings take shape. I promise, it will all be worth it when we can finally open the doors to our brilliant new facilities.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to our incredible staff, volunteers, and supporters. This project is only possible because of your commitment, generosity, and belief in what we do.
HUGH LOWSON
Chief Executive Officer
