What we do.
Our Special Friends (OSF) is a grassroots charity in Suffolk England helping people whose pet plays an integral role in their mental health and wellbeing but who are facing circumstances which put this crucial bond in jeopardy. Every day, OSF is approached by people in difficulty, desperate not to give up their beloved pet and vital source of comfort - or whose age, health, or other circumstances make pet ownership impossible. The majority of our clients are elderly but we work with any adult who is experiencing a time of vulnerability or crisis. OSF holistically assesses each case and provides bespoke solutions to maximise health and welfare outcomes. Our Animal Companionship Support Services include:
- Providing foster care for pets in times of crisis, such as admission to hospital or mental health unit, fleeing domestic abuse, or accessing temporary housing, with the aim to reunite pet and owner when the crisis is resolved
- Dog walking by volunteers when owners have limited mobility and including volunteers accompanying owners who struggle to walk their dog(s) alone
- Contributing towards veterinary and non-veterinary care costs when owners are in financial difficulty and face losing their beloved pet
- Arranging for volunteers to provide transport to vets’ appointments when owners do not drive, and public transport is not available
OSF is entirely reliant on the generosity of supporters to continue providing our innovative range of services. We are a small team of less than ten paid staff with a wonderful 160-strong local volunteer force. Our services ensure that beloved pets are not permanently relinquished due to temporary crises. Through preserving animal companionship, OSF increases human mental health and wellbeing, reduces anxiety and improves physical health, whilst also striving for optimum animal health and welfare. We measure our impact on clients’ health and wellbeing through our Client Feedback Form, sent to all clients. Over 95% agree, ‘they have benefited from our services’. Reducing loneliness and isolation is also a key outcome. Following help from OSF, the percentage of clients who were lonely ‘Always/Often’ or ‘Some of the time’ fell dramatically from 72% to 29%. Valued campaign donations will support our core work for new and existing clients, some 700 direct beneficiaries annually (over 50% elderly over the age of 65 and facing loneliness and isolation), ensuring they can benefit from the health and wellbeing impact of OSF’s one-to-one support services. |  |
How contributions will be used for Giving Tuesday.
 | Our Special Friends is entirely reliant on the generosity of supporters to continue providing our innovative range of services. As previously mentioned we are a team of just seven paid staff, supported by caring and trained local volunteers. Our volunteer-led services ensure that beloved pets are not permanently relinquished due to temporary crises. We rely entirely on fundraising and charitable donations to support over 500 clients in need every year. Please give your invaluable support this Giving Tuesday and all year round, thank you so much. |
Our Giving Tuesday Call to Action.
As a Suffolk charity based in England we would love to encourage volunteering support as well as fundraising - but our greatest need and location lead us to appeal for you generosity through financial support. Please make a donation today so we can promote, preserve, and provide the power of animal companionship.
What is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world. It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the decade, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. The mission is to strive to build a world in which the power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking opportunity, and equity around the globe.
On Giving Tuesday spare a thought for those affected by vulnerability or a sudden crisis when they have beloved pets that need urgent care such as a temporary foster home or veterinary care - that's where Our Special Friends steps into help through our 'one welfare' approach. Please make a valued and much-needed donation to ensure our services reach those in need throughout our local community.
FAQ or Contact
For further information please email, office@ourspecialfriends.org, telephone +44 1284 335351, or visit www.ourspecialfriends.org
