Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation Hits £2m Milestone

Staff at the Manchester office of Irwin Mitchell have raised £18,000 for their Charity of the Year, Animals In Distress, a local charity dedicated to alleviating the suffering of sick and injured animals and offering them sanctuary.

Animals in Distress was chosen by Manchester office staff as their Charity of the Year for 2018 as part of the Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation (IMCF) programme. Established in 1997, IMCF is an independent registered charity which has, thanks to last year’s efforts, donated more than £2 million to good causes throughout the UK and £284,000 in 2018 alone.

Founded in 1967, Animals in Distress continues its mission in a number of ways, from 24-hour rescue, to veterinary treatment and micro-chipping, while education and advice programmes back up the practical work undertaken every day. The charity covers all animals in distress in Salford and Rochdale, from strays and abandoned pets, to road traffic accidents, while the new retirement home offers long term care to older animals.

The charity relies solely on donations from the public and businesses to provide their services, which can be very expensive, as most animals need to be treated by a vet and given time to recover before being neutered and re-homed. There is no NHS for pets and injuries like a broken leg can cost over £250 and an x-ray around £60, which means a donation of £18,000 will make a real difference to animals in the charity’s care.

The money was raised by Irwin Mitchell staff getting involved in a number of fundraising schemes, from running the Manchester 10k, to cake sales and quizzes and will go towards funding the charity’s work.

Expert Opinion

“The Charity of the Year initiative has been a fundamental part of our efforts to actively support the local communities where we are based for many years and we are proud to have raised such a significant sum for Animals in Distress.” Ros Bever - Partner

Mel Dunn, a spokesperson for Animals In Distress, said: “We really appreciate being chosen as Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester Charity of the Year. At a time when many small charities like ourselves are struggling to survive all donations, large or small matter. We are regularly asked to help people in cases where the owner is taken ill, is sent to prison or made homeless, where we may be asked to arrange care for their pet. It’s a vital service that supports the community in many ways and we are beyond grateful to receive £18,000.”