starting a non-profit animal rescue

helen01234

I have started to take in rescued guinea pigs. I currently do this on a small scale (currently have 12). I have created a website and advertise as a non profit rescue.
I am however running out of funds (I support it myself at the myself other than asking for an adoption donation) and I want to do alittle fundraising.
I wont be registering the rescue as I wont be raising over £5000 per year.
My questions are:
Can I call it a charity rescue? Or just a non-profit animal rescue?
Do I need a licence to do tombolas, raffles at local fairs?

Is there anything i desperately need to know? Anything I am completely missing?

Many thanks
Helen

Savvy_Sue

I don't think you can say you are a charity if you're not, but hopefully one of the surviving experts will confirm.

you don't need a license to sell raffle tickets and draw them 'on the spot', you DO need one if you are selling tickets in advance.

paulwf

I would suggest talking to several established animal charities and shelters, I would hope they would be willing to give advice and guidance. Perhaps there is even a network or some sort of umbrella organisation as there are so many?

It might also be worth checking with RSPCA if there is any regulations or general compliance you need to adhere to. Sadly certain people love reporting animal organisations to the RSPCA etc so if you have all the paperwork and compliance in place it could save you a lot of grief.

Good luck with it you're doing a really good thing

heretolearn_2

Here is a link to the Charity Commission guidance for running a small (income under £5k) unregistered charity. If you do set yourself up with a proper constitution, you can call yourself a charity, even though unregistered. It's quite simple and you would probably find it easier to fundraise etc.
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/Do_I_need_to_register/Resources_for_very_small_charities.aspx

Savvy_Sue

^^ one of the surviving esperts speaks!

borders_dude

helen01234 wrote: »

I have started to take in rescued guinea pigs. I currently do this on a small scale (currently have 12). I have created a website and advertise as a non profit rescue.
I am however running out of funds (I support it myself at the myself other than asking for an adoption donation) and I want to do alittle fundraising.
I wont be registering the rescue as I wont be raising over £5000 per year.
My questions are:
Can I call it a charity rescue? Or just a non-profit animal rescue?
Do I need a licence to do tombolas, raffles at local fairs?

Is there anything i desperately need to know? Anything I am completely missing?

Many thanks
Helen

Which part of the Country are you in? England & Wales? Scotland? Northern Ireland? Somewhere else?

helen01234

borders_dude wrote: »

Which part of the Country are you in? England & Wales? Scotland? Northern Ireland? Somewhere else?

Hello,
Im in West Yorkshire, England
Thanks