Funding
The Animal Welfare Evidence Centre was founded thanks to a substantial gift from the Katherine Martin Charitable Trust, and receives additional funding from the RSPCA. Katherine Martin was a pioneering philanthropist, who wished to create a kinder and safer world for animals and children.
Funding overview
- The Animal Welfare Evidence Centre has initial £11 million funding for a 10-year period.
- The Katherine Martin Charitable Trust funds are used for research and the promotion of research only.
- The RSPCA funds are used for all other running costs, along with a contribution to the research budget.
Get involved
We would like to undertake a range of ambitious research projects, so are always open to conversations with funders to make this a reality.
Please contact us on: policy@rspca.org.uk
Independence and transparency
- The independent Advisory Board will provide advice to Centre staff on the costs and budget for any externally commissioned projects, including research, consultancy and events.
- The RSPCA has ultimate responsibility for setting the Centre’s annual budget, and monitoring spending against the set budget.
- Sign-off for Centre spending will follow the RSPCA’s delegated authorities process.
- The RSPCA will provide support services such as HR and finance.
The Katherine Martin Charitable Trust
The funding for the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre is part of an £18 million donation from the Katherine Martin Charitable Trust, the largest gift ever received by the RSPCA.
The Trust was established in 1959 through the Will of Katherine Martin, and for more than 60 years has served as a vital pillar of support for its three beneficiary charities: the RSPCA and children’s charities the NSPCC and Barnardo's.
Support for the RSPCA
Over the years, the RSPCA has received an incredible amount of funding from the Trust to improve the lives of many thousands of animals across England and Wales. With the founding of this important, ground-breaking Evidence Centre, Katherine Martin’s legacy will continue to have a profound impact on animal welfare for years to come.
The Centre has been designed as a resource for the wider animal welfare community. It will become a trusted and widely used source of evidence that charities, policy-makers and practitioners can draw on to better understand the challenges animals face and the most effective ways to address them.
