THE NATUREWATCH FOUNDATION: PET RESCUE GRANTS
A limited number of small grants, usually only 1 or 2 grants annually, of up to £10,000 are available to frontline UK animal welfare charities and Community Interest Companies providing a better life for cats, dogs and rabbits that have been exploited by illegal pet trading.
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o Application deadline: FRIDAY 21st FEBRUARY 2025. This is an annual grant programme that opens to applications today.
o Funder: The Naturewatch Foundation (founded 1996. Charity number 1039679. Total charitable expenditure for the year ended 31 December 2023: £536,493 (2022: £467,666)).
o Who can apply: UK registered charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) registered with Companies House with an annual income of £5 million or less.
o Key Words: Animal Welfare, Rescue and Rehabilitation of Pet Cats, Dogs and Rabbits, Illegal Pet Trade, United Kingdom.
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Gloucestershire-based charity, the Naturewatch Foundation’s Pet Rescue Grant programme is designed to provide funding for frontline animal welfare projects in the UK that directly help with the rescue or rehabilitation of dogs, cats and rabbits affected by the illegal pet trade.
In 2025, a main grant of up to £10,000 is available to registered UK charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) with an annual income of up to £5 million. For the first time, a mini-grant of up to £1,000 will also be available to unincorporated not-for profit organisations, including unregistered charities and community groups.
Smaller registered charities or Community Interest Companies that may not have the capacity to apply to more time-consuming grant application processes are likely to be prioritised.
The grant can be used for such things as (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
o Behavioural support.
o Specialist facilities or equipment, and
o Veterinary care.
The Foundation’s inaugural Pet Rescue Grant launched in 2024, with 72 organisations applying from across the UK. Of these, the following 3 charities were selected to receive a grant:
o Bliss Cavalier Rescue – awarded £5,000.
o Axholme Cat Rescue – awarded £2,850, and
o The Rabbit Residence Rescue – awarded £5,000.
Further information about each of the grant recipients is available on the Foundation’s website.
Funding is not available for:
o Individuals.
o Investigating or campaigning purposes, or
o Organisations based and operating outside of the UK.
Further information, guidance and an application form is available on the Foundation’s website.
Applications for the Main Grant (£10,000) and Mini-Grants (up to £1,000) open today with a deadline of Friday 21st February 2025. The respective application forms are available to download on the Foundation’s website.
Contact details for the Foundation are:
Pet Rescue Grants
The Naturewatch Foundation
49 Rodney Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 1HX
Email: petrescuegrant@