UK Power Networks team's animal magic at sanctuary

Staff from UK Power Networks spent the day painting sheds, benches and toilets, clearing a pond area, weeding and tidying up the front garden at Paws Animal Sanctuary in Findon.

The 13 strong team helped the charity to spruce up the place and get ready for their weekly open day on Sunday, when they hope to find loving new homes for a variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. The sanctuary rehomes more than 1,000 animals every year and rescues injured wildlife such as hedgehogs, squirrels, woodpeckers and young birds.

The volunteers are from the legal department at UK Power Networks, in Crawley, the company which owns and maintains the local electricity network and keeps the lights on. They gave their time through the company’s staff volunteering scheme, which gives staff two days paid leave every year to volunteer or fundraise in their local communities. Last year staff gave over 2,700 hours to good causes in their communities through the company’s volunteering scheme.

Stacey McSpirit, who runs Paws Animal Sanctuary, said: “They have done a really good job. They have painted all the garden seats plus a great big shed and they have cleared round the pond. They have worked really hard and it has made such a difference. They are all heroes!

“During the week I have volunteers who come here for work experience, people who have retired and those suffering depression, as working with animals is a kind of therapy. I could not run this place without volunteers and we have them every day. People don’t realise how many animals we have here and if they can’t have animals at home, they can come here instead.”

Paws Animal Sanctuary, at 15 The Oval, Findon Village, is open to the public every Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. To volunteer, ring Stacey on 07904 476819.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.shorehamherald.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShorehamHerald

3) Follow us on Twitter @Shoreham_Herald

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Shoreham Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.