Bransby Horses, one of the UK’s largest equine welfare charities, is losing 17 team members due to financial challenges. In June, the charity, which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses, donkeys, ponies and mules, announced that it had taken the “extremely difficult” decision to restructure its operations to address an unsustainable £2.5m deficit forecast for this year — the largest in its history.
“Any process of this kind is always difficult, but we’ve worked closely and collaboratively with everyone affected to ensure colleagues were fully supported and to minimise compulsory redundancies wherever possible,” said Jo Snell, chief executive of Bransby Horses.
“While these 17 roles are no longer part of the structure, we’ve been able to significantly reduce the number of compulsory redundancies to just two through our voluntary redundancy scheme, redeployment efforts and natural attrition. 14 of our team members opted for voluntary redundancy and one additional employee has chosen to leave to pursue new opportunities.”
Jo Snell, chief executive of Bransby Horses
The charity’s leader thanked supporters and reassured them of Bransby’s commitment to helping equines in need.
“Since announcing the restructure in response to the financial challenges we face, I speak for the entire team when I say we’ve been incredibly moved by the public support we’ve received,” she said. “Their support and generosity mean the world to us and we’re enormously grateful to the many people who have got in touch with offers of help or suggestions on how we can generate more income, all of which we’re reviewing and exploring where practically possible.
“Bransby Horses has been transforming the lives of equines for over 50 years and we believe our new operating model will ensure we’re able to continue to deliver on every aspect of our important work, albeit at a slightly reduced scale in some cases, while significantly easing the financial pressures we’re currently facing.”
Ensuring care is not compromised
The charity will continue to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and is working to ensure the high-quality care it delivers is not compromised.
While the charity currently cares for almost 290 equines across seven yards, it anticipates this number will reduce over the next 12 months to approximately 250 equines across five yards. It aims to offset this through its continued partnerships with hundreds of valued fosterers and its many equine welfare partners, as well as by resolving as many welfare concerns in the community as possible.
In addition, Bransby Horses has confirmed that its rescue services in the community remain unaffected and continue as usual, with anyone wishing to report any welfare concerns encouraged to get in touch via the charity’s helpline (01427 787369).
Its rehoming scheme will also remain unaffected and it will continue to provide its extensive network of foster partners with support visits and advice as and when required.
L-R: Arya, Opal, Tamar
The visitor centre will remain open as usual (five days per week, including the café, from Wednesday to Sunday), providing more than 50,000 visitors annually with the opportunity to learn about equine welfare and meet some of the hundreds of equines currently homed at the site.
The charity anticipates its new operating model will deliver savings amounting to £1.3m and, as phase two of this project, it is already on with reviewing all of its assets and facilities with its new structure in mind, to identify any further cost reduction or income generation opportunities. It is expected that this review will be completed by the end of the year.
Bransby Horses is currently home to 288 equines, with the charity rescuing 71 equines so far this year. It doesn’t receive any government funding and is largely reliant on the donations it receives from its supporters. For more information about the charity’s work and the different ways to support it, click here.
