HorseWorld considering cuts - half staff could lose jobs

Fenris

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HorseWorld considering cuts that could lead to nearly half the staff losing their jobs

By Beena Nadeem, Third Sector Online, 9 January 2014

Horse rescue charity has begun consultation with its 62 staff over potential redundancies and possible closure of the visitor centre

The equine charity HorseWorld is considering cost-cutting measures that could result in almost half of its staff being made redundant.

The charity, which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes animals that have been abandoned, neglected or badly treated, is considering closing its visitor centre in Bristol to reduce costs.

It has begun a consultation with its 62 staff that could result in 28 of them being made redundant as part of the changes.

The charity’s income has been falling. It said that the number of horses that needed rescuing had increased sharply in recent years.

The charity’s total income fell from £1.25m in 2010 to £1.06m in 2012, its accounts show.

Its voluntary income fell from £728,046 in 2010 to £398,214 in 2012, its accounts show, and legacy donations fell by £308,433 to just £255,591 over the same period.

Mark Owen, managing director of HorseWorld, said that Bath and North East Somerset Council had refused to grant planning permission for a new visitor centre, which would have accommodated more visitors and enabled the charity to become entirely self-funding.

He said the visitor centre was outdated and needs a lot of investment. "The option of a new visitor centre isn’t open to us any more," he said. "We have had to revise our plans and look at emergency cost-cutting measures. We have had to look at what’s best for the animals in the long term and unfortunately this might mean redundancies."

He would not say how much the charity wanted to save.

Final decisions on redundancies are expected to be made within six weeks.
 
Aaagghh! i just LOVE animal charities who think it makes sense to announce possible staff redundancies (in the hope it will generate more donations!) When I went into the BHS, the Board made two attempts to force me into making staff redundancies - despite the fact they'd already DONE that to the point the org. was under-staffed! There WERE other solutions - which STARTED with getting the staff on-side and getting THEIR ideas to cut costs and increase income.
 
I think it is a major toys out of the pram moment. HW in packed every day it isn't raining, they have probably got inadequate facilities, but I fail to see how they need to shrink in size because they can't expand. The fields they want to sell for development are in an area where traffic is gridlocked currently at all rush hours and there are new houses being built on some of the land, which is causing absolute chaos. I am confused by their stance.
 
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