Somerset animal rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming charity, Ferne Animal Sanctuary, has launched its winter welfare campaign for the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024.
The Big Give Christmas Challenge operates annually, matching donations to charities across the UK by doubling all funds donated to the charity of choice. For Ferne Animal Sanctuary, the winter months and Christmas period will strain resources and available funds. 
Ferne Animal Sanctuary has received a promised £4,000 in pledges for this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, with the support of its Big Give Champion, The Reed Foundation, pledging a further £2,000 for the charity.
To receive the £6,000 in pledged funds, Ferne Animal Sanctuary must raise an additional £6,000 in one week, from 12pm on Tuesday, December 3 to 12pm on Tuesday, December 10. To receive the matched funds from the pledges, online donations need to be made directly to Big Give Christmas Challenge via Ferne’s Winter Welfare campaign page.
2024 has been the most challenging year to date for the 85-year-old charity; Ferne Animal Sanctuary launched its Urgent Appeal in the Spring to help them through an unprecedented financial downturn and raise essential funds to ensure the charity could continue operating.
The sanctuary, which homes over 300 animals at a time, is preparing for the further challenges that winter brings.
Kevan Hodges, Chief Executive Officer at Ferne Animal Sanctuary, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our local community this year, which has been a testing time for us at the sanctuary.
“The winter welfare campaign provides the unique opportunity to double all donations from December 3-10 via the Big Give Christmas Challenge, which will make a life-saving difference to continue providing welfare and care to the more than 300 vulnerable animals we home currently.
“Any donation, big or small, not only will be doubled from our pledged pot of funds but will make a massive difference to us and our animals in need.”
To offer support, donations can be made online here: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002TPUqtAAH.
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