The PURR Project
Plan for Ultimate Rescue Relocation
What is the PURR Project?
Finding a new home for our rescue charity within the much loved Shropshire hills.
The PURR (Plan for Ultimate Rescue Relocation) Project is our £2m capital appeal to help secure a new home for Shropshire Cat Rescue in the heart of the county.
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For more than 35 years, we have been caring for cats and kittens in need of care, protection and new homes. Cats who need a safe place to recover, to be cared for and rehabilitate.
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During that time, the need for our help and support has grown significantly. We have now outgrown our current site and premises, and finding a new home is essential if we are to continue and develop our work for many more years to come.
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As well as caring for cats and kittens and finding them loving new homes wherever we can, we want to expand the services and support we can offer. Our PURR Project appeal will help us turn this vision into reality.​
Why Does Shropshire Cat Rescue Need a New Home?
Harvey: He is a 3 year old, retirement village resident
Shropshire Cat Rescue has grown from a small rescue into a charity supporting cats and kittens across the county that requires 100+ volunteers to keep everything running smoothly.
Today, our rescue centre is still based around the home and garden of our founder, Marion. As the charity and the need for our services have grown, we have reached the point where we need a bigger and purpose-built home for our work.
Moving to a new site will give Shropshire Cat Rescue the space and facilities it needs to expand its rescue, rehoming, education and long-term care work, while creating a sustainable future for the charity. Marion's vision is to ensure that the charity can continue its work for many years to come, with the right foundations in place for its future, whoever is leading it.
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Most importantly, this is about protecting the future of cats in Shropshire. By expanding our ability to rescue, care for and rehome cats, while educating people about responsible cat care and welfare, we can help create better outcomes for cats across the county.
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Our vision also reaches beyond cats alone. We want to ensure that our new location supports the local wildlife, offers quiet spaces in nature and has additional facilities for visitors to enjoy spending a whole day with us.
Pippie: She is a 13 year old, retirement village resident
What are the PURR Projects Goals?
Plan for Ultimate Rescue Relocation
​Buy land for a new rescue centre
Up to 10 acres of land with buildings near to our current rescue centre.
Relocate the existing facilities to the new location
Move to a new larger site and redevelop the area to acomodate our existing services.
Expand our rescue centre for cats with new facilities
Create new rehabilitation facilities for our cats and kittens. Including visitor experiences, and educational opportunties surrounded by the beautiful Shopshire Hills.
What Will the New Rescue Centre Enable?
EXPANSION
Increase the size and capabilities of our rehoming and shelter facilities to help more cats and kittens in need.
Expand the capacity of our retirement village areas for senior, vunerable and super senior care facilities.
Grow our educational opportunities, working with people of all ages to increase awareness of animal welfare, while understanding the wider connections between wildlife and the health of our natural environment.
Develop our education and community programmes to promote well-being, understanding, and respect between people, animals and the importance of the human animal bond.
Our New Sanctuary
An Artist's Impression
Until we find a location, this design represents the areas and concepts. New buildings will be built to be accessible and using eco-friendly sustainable methods wherever possible.
Our New Sanctuary will be comprised of:
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RESCUE PENS for cats waiting for new homes
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A BRAND NEW NURSERY to give the youngest cats the best possible start in life
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A BRAND NEW PET HOSPITAL to provide on-site treatment facilities for visiting vets
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A NEW RETIREMENT VILLAGE for our adored elderly and disabled cats to live comfortable lives in their twilight years’
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A CAT EXERCISE/PHYSIO AREA to help rehabilitate and encourage movement in a safe environment with equipment designed for cats.
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A NEW EDUCATION CENTRE to deliver pet welfare workshops and pet care classes for school children, Duke of Edinburgh and post-16 students, adults, other agencies and charities
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STAFF ACCOMMODATION for employees and volunteers to stay on-site so that our cats and kittens have support 24/7
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A NEW COMMUNITY HUB providing space for community groups and fundraising events
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NEW VISITOR FACILITIES including reception, shops, cafe, toilets, increased car parking, picnic area and peaceful landscaped gardens
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FIELDS and ENCLOSURES for our other residents - guinea pigs, ponies and sheep (who are just as popular with our visitors as the cats!)
A Word From Our Patron
“I am very touched to have been invited to become a Patron of Shropshire Cat Rescue’s Big PURR project.
It is a very exciting and, obviously, much-needed development of the wonderful work already being done by Shropshire Cat Rescue.
I know, too, that it it not only cats who are the fortunate ones – sheep, ponies and other species of animals are also taken in and cared for.
What I also admire about the project is the inclusive educational aspect. It is only through greater understanding of the animals, with their individual needs and feelings, that we can all – hopefully – treat them with compassion and respect. I look forward to learning more about this marvellous venture and wish it all the support it deserves.”
​Virginia McKenna OBE
