Making Raystede fit for the future: next steps
Like many charities across the animal welfare sector, Raystede is facing growing financial pressures. Rising costs for animal food, bedding, veterinary care and utilities, alongside increases in National Insurance and wage costs, have created significant challenges. Despite careful financial management, we recorded a deficit of more than £1 million in both financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26.
While Raystede remains financially stable and has reserves in place, continuing in the same way is not sustainable. We believe it is our responsibility to act now so that we can protect and strengthen our services for the future.
At the same time, the needs of animals and owners are changing. Increasingly, we know that prevention (giving people the knowledge to choose and care responsibly for a pet that’s right for them), education and early support can make the greatest difference to animal welfare outcomes.
At the end of April 2026, we shared proposals for change. Following extensive consultation with staff and careful consideration of all feedback and options, our conclusion remains that the proposed changes are necessary. But the consultation has been hugely valuable and informed our plans. Raystede continues to face serious financial challenges and must reduce its ongoing costs to ensure long-term survival while continuing to deliver high standards of animal welfare and support the charity’s strategic priorities of Prevention, Support and Care. Doing nothing is not an option.
Our comprehensive plan of action
We will now be moving forward with plans designed to ensure Raystede can continue providing the very best welfare for animals in Sussex, sustainably and responsibly, for many years to come. We will be reshaping how we deliver services and support animal welfare across Sussex.
Aviaries
While the consultation has not changed the overall direction of the proposal to phase out on-site care of aviary birds, it has been a meaningful consultation, and it has directly informed aspects of our final decisions. We have listened to and taken on board the comments and proposals, and changes to the original proposals now include:
Fowl
We also intend to phase out the care of Fowl on-site – chickens, ducks, geese – we will gradually rehome those currently with us over a period of time, ensuring that they all find good homes.
Animal Welfare Support Team
A key part of our Prevention, Support and Care strategy will be the creation of a new Animal Welfare Support Team. As well as supporting all our rehoming activity, this specialist team will expand our provision of expert advice, practical guidance and hands-on support focused on responsible, knowledgeable ownership and animal care, both at Raystede and in the wider community.
These plans will allow us to focus our expertise and resources on areas where we can consistently deliver the strongest welfare outcomes and greatest long-term impact.
What will happen next?
We recognise that these changes will have an impact on our staff teams. As part of the new organisational design, some roles will change, merge or no longer be required. At the same time, new roles are also being created, including opportunities within the new Animal Welfare Support Team and other areas of the organisation.
Our staff and volunteers remain at the heart of Raystede, and we continue to support them throughout this period of change.
Raystede’s 43-acre site remains open to welcome adopters, visitors, supporters and the local community.
While change is never easy, we believe these steps are necessary to secure Raystede’s future and strengthen our ability to support animals and people across Sussex for generations to come.
Thank you
Thank you for your understanding, kindness and support through this period of difficult discussions, decisions and change for Raystede. Together we can ensure that we can be here for the animals who need us, now and for many years to come.
You can find more in-depth information and FAQs here: