Animal charity receives grant to enhance services

A Surrey charity has received nearly £70,000 in funding to provide safer fencing and shelter for its animals.

Kingswood Shetlands & Friends in Caterham offers animal-assisted therapy for young people living with disability and mental health conditions.

The charity said it had refenced the farm and paddocks with more sustainable and safer fencing, installed field shelters to the paddocks to provide animals shelter from the elements, and erected an indoor learning cabin for young people.

Sarah Lopez, who runs the charity, said the grant from Your Surrey Fund had allowed it to maintain the best possible animal welfare, as well as benefited visitor experience.

"The funded building offers more than just physical shelter; it provides a quiet space for meaningful interactions with small animals, supported by a practitioner," she said.

Ms Lopez added: "Adverse weather can disrupt outdoor plans, and many of the people we support find sudden changes challenging.

"The cabin provides invaluable stability, supporting each person's healing journey."

The charity supports about 210 people weekly through its services.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.