Yesterday our Founder and CEO Vanessa shared some of our highlights from 2025, but today she looks ahead, honestly and hopefully, to what’s next for Hope Rescue.

“I won’t pretend the year ahead will be easy. Financial pressures mean our growth has to be carefully managed. But despite those challenges, I’m genuinely excited about some of the plans we can move forward with, all focused on improving how we care for our dogs and support the communities around us.

One project I’m especially proud to share is that, thanks to the incredible generosity of a donor who has pledged to fund the feasibility study, we can finally begin exploring the development of our own on-site veterinary facility. This is something we’ve wanted for a long time. With our current vet bills now exceeding £320,000 a year, largely due to the increasing number of dogs arriving with complex health needs, this project could be truly transformational. Once the feasibility study is complete, we plan to launch a capital appeal later in the year.

Our Hope in the Community programme will also be evolving, with a stronger focus on education. Thanks to funding from Battersea, we’ll be launching a new online learning platform. This will support training and development for our staff and volunteers, while also allowing us to reach even more dog guardians with practical, accessible advice. Alongside this, our new training room, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, will enable us to deliver workshops, events and courses for partners, groups and individuals.

I’m also really excited that, thanks again to Battersea’s support, we’ll be transforming our volunteering programme. We’ll be opening up new volunteering opportunities, including roles based at the rescue centre, so please watch this space.

On the campaigning front, as a member of the Welsh Government’s Implementation Group for the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, I’ll continue working closely with our #CutTheChase partners to ensure greyhounds racing in Wales are protected ahead of the ban, and to push hard for an early implementation date.

After a challenging couple of years, we’ve taken time to reflect and a year out from strategic planning, but we’ll soon begin developing our new five-year strategy. Importantly, I want this to be shaped by the voices of our local community, and we’ll be asking for your insight on what matters most to you and where you feel our focus should be.

I know funding will continue to be our biggest challenge. We can only move forward thanks to the kindness and generosity of our supporters and funders. If you’d like to be part of our journey towards a future where all dogs are treated with care, kindness and respect, I’d be so grateful if you’d consider a regular monthly gift:

Thank you for being part of Hope Rescue - your support truly shapes what comes next.