Pupils' star role

24th May 2007

Staff and students at a Chesterfield school took to the stage to help raise money to help abandoned animals.

Sixth-form students studying A-level leisure studies and GNVQ leisure and tourism at Newbold Community school organised a talent show as part of their course work.

The event was well supported by the school with Chris Carter's impersonation of Rod Stewart and Ms Petit's Posse's impressions of teachers at the school winning the competition.

The student organisers - Karen Dove, Robin Abbott, Anthony Forde and Leanne Munn - donated the £497.23 raised by the show to Chesterfield RSPCA.

Judges included acting headteacher Paul Snee and RSPCA manager Richard Woodwards.

Dronfield pupil dedicated to animals

11th May 2007

A young animal lover from Dronfield has given up her school lunch times to help raise much needed funds for the RSPCA Chesterfield branch.

Shauna Holland (12) from the Henry Fanshawe school, Dronfield organised a number of fundraising activities at the school including a pet photograph competition, name the teddy, a poem competition, colour the cat/dog picture, guess how many sweets in the jar and a vote for your favourite pet.

The money raised came to a grand total of £100 which will be divided between the RSPCA animal centre and the Cats Protection League.

Shauna's dedication to the animal centre is greatly appreciated with other activities soon to be arranged.

Shauna said: "I love all animals and love helping them and I have really enjoyed raising the money. When I am old enough I hope to work at the animal centre."

• Animal lover: Shauna Holland hope to keep up her fundraising

Sean and Becky at our place - By Richard Woodwards

14th April 2007

I have come to realise over the years that working for the RSPCA things never go as planned and other times opportunities occur as if by magic at the most random times.

I have been trying for the past five years to build a relationship with our local radio station Peak FM with little success. The idea behind this was to try to keep the local people up to date with the news and events at their animal centre as well as using it as a platform to gain local support for the work that we do.

I was particularly interested in gaining the support and friendship of the dynamic duo that present the breakfast show Sean Goldsmith and Becky Measures.

The launch of their out and about Saturday morning show Sean and Becky at your place filled me with hope and I contacted Peak FM to see if we could do a show from the animal centre. Unfortunately the charges involved meant that once again we were unable to work with Peak FM much to my disappointment.

At this stage I resigned myself to the fact that the power of local radio would be unavailable to us and concentrated my efforts elsewhere.

Out of the blue in April 2007 we received a call from Peak FM to say that if we were interested Sean and Becky could present their show from the animal centre and if it was possible they would be with us within the hour.

Of course I agreed and at last I could put a face to the famous local voices that I had listened to over the last five years.

Sean and Becky arrived and we gave them the grand tour of the centre. They were extremely interested in the work that we do and interviewed various members of the staff as they worked on the various animal blocks. The whole experience was very enjoyable for both parties and it sounded absolutely fantastic when it ran on the local radio.

Becky was so inspired by her visit that she now comes down to the centre on a regular basis as a centre volunteer and dog walker.

Becky has also offered her services to be a judge at our dog show on the 17^th June 2007 as well as having various ideas on how to help out the animal centre in the near future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peak FM for giving us the chance to promote our local centre and consequently since the programme aired our adoption rates have increased dramatically.

Also a massive thank you to Sean and Becky for their interest, help and support and we all hope that we have forged a relationship that will last for years to come.

• Support: Richard is pictured with the dynamic duo Sean and Becky. Also pictured is Millie looking for a good home
  

Donors put icing on the cake

13th April 2007

Generous shoppers have helped a charity raise over £40,000 in a year to help needy animals in North Derbyshire.

The RSPCA shop in the Market Hall, Chesterfield, has celebrated its first birthday - with profits going to the animal centre on Spital Lane.

Animal centre manager, Richard Woodwards said: "The money we've raised has been amazing and every penny of the profits has gone to the animal centre."

Every year the branch needs to raise £200,000 to accommodate all the animals who pass through its doors.

To find out more about our charity shop and ways to help please click here

• Celebration: RSPCA workers Sharon Hill, Julia Norbury and Karen Gregory celebrate the first birthday of the charity shop.

Cheers to pub's charity spirit...

15th March 2007

Generous pub regulars have raised charity funds, as well as glasses, for the fourth year running.

Maureen Tropman, landlady of Whittington Moor's Red Lion, and her customers have donated £625 to the Chesterfield RSPCA branch, raised at money-spinning events throughout the past year.

Maureen said: "We held several events, a car boot sale, a couple of curry nights, a Burns' Night party and Body Shop party and have managed to raise more money than ever before this year.

"I have always be fond of animals and I think the RSPCA does a good job."

She handed over the cheque to Richard Woodwards at the centre in Spital Lane.

Richard Said: "It's nice to get a one-off donation but to receive money annually is fabulous, and they always give a big amount.

"We are a self-funded centre and are running at a loss so donations like this keep us going by paying wages and for the animals' food."

• Maureen is pictured with Richard Woodwards and Tia the Ridgeback cross puppy.