As you can imagine, running a charity purely on the basis of donations these days is no longer the simplest of tasks, but it has to be said that the unflinching generosity of corporate sponsors together with private donators and well-wishers makes things a lot easier than they could be in the current climate of unrelenting financial pressure.
The financial support of individuals is both much appreciated and thankfully admired, but as our collective grandmothers no doubt told us over and over, "Look after the pennies and the £'s will look after themselves". So, the Trustees of S.O.S. would also like to pay tribute to their loyal staff and trusty volunteers for foregoing many of life's luxuries - warmth, leaky office accommodation and a nearby toilet spring to mind - as they go about their daily duties without complaint and cognisant of our financial straits. Thanks, guys!! - without you, none of our endeavours in the sphere of the care and conservation of wild owls and other birds of prey would be possible. If there were medals given for frugality, you'd be the first in line.
But it's not always cash & hard graft that make our place tick: we have also benefitted from the materials and manpower provided on a free-of-charge basis by many local firms who have played a valuable part in keep us going. Over the years Andrews Sykes, B&Q, Barclays Bank, Bardon Concrete, Clarkes of Walsham, The Co-OP, Eastern Concrete, Freecycle, Jewson and Lafarge have all stepped into the breach with supplies and muscle-power to help with maintenance and general upkeep.
So now it's with pleasure that we add another - albeit slightly different - corporate sponsor to the roster - Birketts LLP. This highly successful local law firm have stepped in with the generous sponsorship of one of our latest arrivals, the Great Horned Owl hatched here just a few weeks ago, to help celebrate the firms 150 years in business. With offices in Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge & Chelmsford, Birketts - who provide a full range of legal & financial services to businesses, institutions and individuals - will also be promoting the Sanctuary across the region through its many lines of communication to their customers and the public at large, helping us raise awareness about wildlife care & conservation interests of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. May we say thank you, and welcome!