South West project in the running for major national award
A South West project that offers pet fostering services to domestic violence survivors is appealing for votes in order to be crowned National Lottery Project of the Year.
Refuge4Pets beat off stiff competition from more than 1300 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects which do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.
There are 17 shortlisted finalists from across the UK, all of which will compete in a four-week public vote from 7th September to 7th October to be named the National Lottery Project of the Year. Winners will receive a £5,000 cash prize for their project and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy.
Refuge4Pets, which operates in Devon and Cornwall, provides safe animal foster homes and gives domestic violence survivors the peace of mind that their pet is well looked after until they get settled.
Leaving an abusive relationship is a difficult step to take and survivors face a number of hurdles to walking out.
One of these can be a beloved pet and the fact that they cannot be taken into emergency accommodation, which can cause further distress to survivors and their children.
Dr Mary Wakeham, who has worked in the field of supporting children and adults who have experienced domestic abuse for 12 years, was determined to remove this barrier.
In 2017, she founded charity Refuge4Pets, which provides safe animal foster homes and gives victims the peace of mind that their pet is well looked after until they get settled.
In 2021, Refuge4Pets supported 91 families in Devon and Cornwall to escape abuse, helped by 150 volunteers.
Dr Mary Wakeham, founder of Refuge4Pets, said: “We’re so pleased to have been shortlisted as a finalist for Project of the Year in the 2022 National Lottery Awards.
“Anyone who has a pet knows how important they can be to families and individuals. For those experiencing domestic abuse, pets may provide their only source of comfort, companionship and love.
“Most emergency housing and refuges do not accommodate animals, which makes the services provided by Refuge4Pets so important.
“If you are a survivor of domestic abuse, with no money, your children in tow and with animals, it is almost impossible to escape. Thanks to National Lottery players, Refuge4Pets can remove some of these barriers to help domestic abuse victims reach safety.
“We’d urge everyone to get voting to help Refuge4Pets become the National Lottery’s 2022 Project of the Year.”
Jonathan Tuchner, from the National Lottery, added: “We’re so pleased to have received so many nominations highlighting the excellent work that National Lottery-funded projects are doing up and down the UK. It’s no secret that times are tough, so it’s great to see so many people and projects dedicating so much time and energy into giving something back to their communities.
"It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, that brilliant projects like these are possible.
“Refuge4Pets are doing some incredible work in their local community and they thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2022. With your support, they could be a winner.”
To vote for Refuge4Pets, please go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards, or simply use the Twitter hashtag #NLARefuge4Pets. Voting runs from 9am on 7th September until 5pm on 7th October.
