TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2022
2 Foreword from the Chair
Queen Elizabeth II had a lifelong passion for animals. She served
as our patron during her reign, following in the footsteps of
her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who was another
animal lover and our first patron in 1840. In a wonderful gesture,
the Queen permitted us to create a new award to honour those
who have made a significant contribution to animal welfare.
Her dedication to animals and her many years of support for
the RSPCA will never be forgotten.
Many of us will remember 2022 as a year of multiple storms
and disruptions at home and abroad. As is often the case,
these human crises also had significant impacts on animal
welfare. But all our volunteers, supporters, partners and staff
showed immense resilience and determination to protect
animals' lives throughout this challenging year, and I'd like
to thank each and every one of them.
The cost-of-living crisis meant many people were suddenly
faced with the trauma of simply not having enough money
to be able to look after their pets properly. Our branch teams
and inspectors know their communities well and they swiftly
anticipated the crisis, moving quickly to plug the gaps with
practical support, from pet food donations to welfare advice.
Their efforts have allowed many animals to stay in good,
loving homes.
The war in Ukraine sent shockwaves around the world, but
I am so proud that we stood with the country and that the
RSPCA was able to help fleeing owners keep their beloved
pets. Tragically, animals have been left behind in previous
conflicts, so this was a real first.
It looks like things are not going to settle down any time soon
and we are certainly likely to face more challenges in the future.
An ageing society will put huge pressure on public spending,
there will be the impacts of climate change and extreme
weather events, economic uncertainty, population growth and
no doubt further unrest overseas. All of these, as we've already
seen in 2022, can have a direct impact on animal welfare.
But there is always hope of positive change in the world and
we are determined to continue to make it a kinder and more
compassionate place for animals. We know we're not alone
in that desire, because in fact protecting animal welfare is
important to most people. Our very first annual Animal Kindness
Index confirmed what many of us probably suspected already
- we are definitely a nation of animal lovers. The public thinks
animal welfare matters and wants it to be protected in law and
taught in schools.
Our vision reflects those values:
Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and
treated with kindness and compassion.
And our mission to deliver this vision:
Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing
and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of
all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with
compassion and respect.
That shared desire for a kinder world for animals is an incredibly
powerful force. It drives the community action that is embedded
in our history and in our DNA. With more than 1 million people
I'm delighted to share with you our Trustees'
report and accounts for 2022. This was a
memorable year for all of us, with the sad
death of Her Majesty the Queen marking the
end of a defining era in our history.