Non-profit cat rescue and rehoming shelter The Cats Whiskers has received a £150,000 funding boost from finance provider Social Investment Scotland (SIS).
The funding package from SIS has allowed The Cats Whiskers to take ownership of its premises in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, allowing the organisation to expand and upgrade its facilities to take care of more than 150 cats and kittens over the coming year.
Established in 2018, The Cats Whiskers initially aimed to treat and rehome 50 cats in a year as well as supporting owners who may find themselves struggling to care for them. The new funding package has enabled the charity to increase the number of cats in care and to upgrade the facilities with the creation of a memorial garden and various enrichment areas to benefit the wider community. The money will also allow the charity to minimise its environmental footprint by increasing the biodiversity of the garden and the introduction of the solar panels.
Donna Hingley, trustee at The Cats Whiskers, said: “As proud cat lovers, we are thrilled to have the support from Social Investment Scotland. This will enable us to have the security and stability in our premises, which will allow us to focus on the care for our cats and owners, by being able to care for cats on a short-term basis too, ensuring every adopted cat is in the healthiest state possible.
“The funding from SIS will also give us the opportunity to increase our sustainability practices at our premises and really offer a place that both the cats, and the community will enjoy.”
Social Investment Scotland was established in 2001 to provide a new finance model for Scotland’s charities and social enterprises and, since then, it has invested over £120 million. Loan finance via Social Investment Scotland is available from £10,000 to £1.3m and is aimed at community enterprises and social businesses that might find access to finance from mainstream providers difficult.
