International Day of Charity: The kindness that keeps our sanctuary going

At Surge Sanctuary, charity isn’t an abstract idea - it’s the reason we exist. As a fully volunteer‑run and donation‑funded sanctuary, every act of kindness, no matter how small, directly supports the animals who call this place home. On International Day of Charity, we want to celebrate the people who make our work possible every single day.

We don’t have paid staff or government funding. What we do have is a community of people who choose to give their time, their resources, their skills, and their compassion. And together, those acts of generosity keep the sanctuary running. Mucking out, feeding, repairing, cleaning, enriching, and caring - it never stops, and neither does the kindness.

Our volunteer team deserves special recognition today. Surge Sanctuary simply couldn’t exist without them. Every bed mucked out, every paddock repaired, every animal comforted - it all happens because volunteers choose to show up. Their commitment is extraordinary, and they keep the sanctuary going through every season, every challenge, and every early morning.

This year, our two open days were a reminder of just how strong our volunteer community is. Because everyone comes on different days, they rarely get to see each other - so having so many volunteers together in one place felt incredibly special. It was a moment to pause, look around, and realise that this sanctuary is held up by people who give their time, energy and compassion week after week.

We would also like to mention the Vegan Sanctuary Squad, who visit us for monthly group volunteering days. Their help has been incredible: trimming thistles, painting enclosures, deep‑cleaning areas, and picking up a frankly heroic amount of poo! These are jobs we simply couldn’t complete on a normal day, so their support has made a huge difference to the animals’ comfort and safety.

We want to celebrate our monthly donors, who quietly provide the financial stability that keeps us afloat. Their ongoing support means we know roughly what funding will come in each month, giving us the security to plan ahead - to order feed and bedding, replace equipment, and understand what we have left for expanding the sanctuary and creating new areas for the animals. Even during difficult periods, their consistency gives us safety and breathing room. Monthly donors are the backbone of our financial stability, and their kindness allows us to keep saying “yes” to animals who need us.

Another huge source of support comes from our Amazon wishlist donors. We often add the “boring” essentials - the things that aren’t glamorous but are absolutely vital. Builders’ sand for the turkeys to dust bathe in, syringes for routine medications and vaccinations, feed bins to keep food dry and safe, and new equipment like wheelbarrows, brushes and poo pickers. Many of our tools have been with us since we opened and they’re finally starting to give up, so every wishlist donation helps us keep the sanctuary functioning day‑to‑day.

And of course, we’re currently running our Urgent Pig Fence Fundraiser, helping us raise the money needed to install safe, secure fencing for Matilda’s family. Donations to fundraisers like this - whether £2 or £200 - directly improve the lives of the animals who rely on us.

Charity takes many forms at the sanctuary. It might be a corporate volunteer day, a wishlist item arriving when we need it most, a monthly donation that gives us financial stability, a shared post that helps our animals reach new supporters, a fundraiser challenge like running a marathon in our name, a one‑off gift, a purchase from our online shop or from our stall at a local market, or visiting the sanctuary for an event or tour. It can also be a morning spent mucking out alongside our volunteers. Every one of these acts — big or small — adds up to a sanctuary that can keep going.

On International Day of Charity, we want to say thank you. To everyone who gives - time, money, items, skills, or support - you are the reason we can provide lifelong care, food, bedding, enrichment, and veterinary support to animals who need us.

Your kindness keeps the sanctuary alive.