This is a bit of the lengthy post but all important information.
Justin, the Marketing Director, of whom is the only director to have approach me so far (and likely only because of online presence which is great for us) emailed me the information pack provided to the volunteers.
The pack provided, much like the manner in which the petition has been addressed, skirts around the main crux of the issue of Heydon being closed down BUT I will acknowledge for all intents and purposes was likely for a formal meeting or presentation therefore is likely missing information. Nonetheless, these are the key points I am taking from the pack.
Disclaimer: I will be seeking further opinions on the pack aside from myself which I will post in the coming weeks.
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Pros and Cons of Heydon written by the directors themselves I feel are very contradictory to the plan of closing Heydon - here is the list and my own comments:
PRO Low Turnover of staff
My comments: Staff at Heydon are long term workers. They know the branch, the cats and can provide intimate service of a high quality. These people are being failed by the redundancy and replaced with ‘new people’. It is almost an out with the old in with the new policy.
PRO Facilities – High Quality and Quiet Environment
My comments: This is ideal for cat rehoming as a core skill, which is what Heydon ALREADY offers!
They also point out the high quality of the environment which although Godmanchester is a nice facility is is surrounded by dangerous and unsightly roads.
PRO Consistent Multispecies
My comments: Although due to noise complaint Heydon cannot operate with dogs its high quality of care for all other animals is possible, feasible and easily done right now!
Heydon should be a hub for cats with more focus on dogs at the Godmanchester Branch giving each animal their own required space. Heydon is ideal for cats and small animals.
PRO Locations – Between other sites
My comments: This speaks for itself, it is the ONLY place between London and Godmanchester.
Blue Cross and RSPCA are the only another small animal and cat hubs in the area and IMO don’t offer the same level of service and secondly none of them are in accessible venues such as Heydon so there is NO COMPARISON.
CON Layout – Requires investment
My comments: The site is already self sufficient. The cattery is relatively modern and the buildings ect are all safe and up to date.
This read to me as ‘investment overlooked’ because I would love to know the transparent 'WHY' as to why you wouldnt invest alongside some hard evidence. None provided to date.
Suggestion: There is an empty space where the charity shop used to be that could be utilised with relative ease and low cost whether that be more cattery space or small animals. This building is already owned by Heydon.
CON Surgery – No advanced capabilities
My comments: How? This point is not elaborated on at all. Do they mean lack of equipment (which is what I suspect) as I am aware that Heydon has to outsource vet facilities but why would you simply not invest in this instead which would make this a permanent capability?
Why? Would the existing empty spaces expand on this? As the suggestion before mentions there are spaces which could be considered for advancing the veterinary aspect if that is an angle to be considered. The old charity shop could be renovated into a vet practise.
Heydon carries out 130 Nurse led Proceedures per month, 134 consults and 24 Neuters, 10 dental and 4 misc operations a month.
If they are alluding to the lack of Vet specialist this is a lack of provision from head office as opposed to a site issue.
Suggestion: Have programmes for upcoming Vet techs and BAhons students be considered for an intimate ground like Heydon? This is an expandable idea. Heydon could very much act as a training ground duality with the Charity which would help people and pets which is Wood Greens long term aim.
CON Location – Rural for footfall
My comments: There is ALWAYS footfall when I have visited.
I would like to see the market research and numbers to support this being listed as a con. No figures or information has been included for this.
I can understand as a smaller branch there will be less footfall as a common sense denominator but is there so little it would warrant a closure? I highly suspect not.
CON Dogs – Unable to serve
My comments: Dogs are NOT the only focus for the charity so this should not be a con.
Whilst a consideration, I appreciate, Heydon should focus on its strengths with the cats and smalls which it currently does to a very high standard as aforementioned in the pack.
Security – Issues for the site.
My comments: No more than the issues at Godmanchester, the site is smaller and would therefore be easier to secure. As far as I am aware the biggest security risks are posted at Godmanchester because of the demand in criminal activity including dogs.
I do not see security as a massive aspect to the Cons but always something to be considered and easily improved on due to the small size.
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Operating Costs and figures (As outlined in the pack)
Disclaimer: Again, these are rough overviews on my part and other opinions will be considered.
KBF £1943k per annum
London £457k per annum
Heydon £598k per annum
So immediately with the removal of London, the funds could be moved into the Heydon which leaves a differential of £141k. I do not feel this is an unreasonable figure that would result in Heydons closure? Surely with investment and more tactical planning this figure could either be covered entirely or reduced?
With some considerate investment I would imagine Heydon is likely to be more beneficial being kept open and used to a maximum potential instead of removed entirely.
I also want to point out that Justin from Wood Green advised me that Wood Green as an animals charity is NOT in debt and has a Significant Reserve so right now I personally still feel this is all about money and not about the 'people and pets'.
Some serious reasons why Heydon is valuable (From the pack)
The cost per day per cat at Heydon is £18.67 which is almost identical to Godmanchester at £18.13 so again, per cat no major deficit. This is incredible considering Heydon is significantly smaller than Godmanchester.
Heydon has a monthly intake of lowest 30 to highest 80 cats per month.
Godmanchester which is much larger than Heydon has a monthly intake of 40 to 80 cats per month so again, we have a branch much smaller competing with relative ease!
Heydon has a rehoming record of lowest 40 to highest 80 cats per month whereas Godmanchester has 50 to 100, given the size difference AGAIN Heydon is showing quality over quantity.
Why would you want to remove something which is competing with a site possibly 5 times bigger if not more?
The reality on a balance of probabilities
Godmanchester, if Heydon closes, would have no option but to increase the cattery as the intake would theoretically increase from 40-80 to a possible 80 – 160 and that is only considering if those people even want to travel to Godmanchester to take them in.
Ultimately, as the query was raised on BBC Cambridge, people simply do not want too or physically cannot go to Godmanchester.
So where will these cats (and the unnumbered small animals) be taken too?
Quite sadly and on the balance of probability it would either be to competing charities (which is highly unlikely due to them not having walk in centres either!) or quite sadly being left to die.
Animals will be jeopardy and no amount of touting a mobile service and additional fosters can negate that.
If anything, IMO, the pack actually highlights that Heydon has such a potential to offer so much more and that right now the closure is just a provision for the want to put more into Godmanchester and the pet project that is going to be Peterbourough.
Essentially they are taking away a crucial and sturdy, reliable and loyal service in place of something that is not practical or benificial to the space between London and Cambridge.
No real hard evidence to date has been provided by Wood Green that really gives substance to the closure of Heydon.
I want to know the following:
What are the profit Margins of Wood Green? Is all this “better allocation of money” really the truth,
A transparent breakdown of costs would be sufficient.
If 2M is being invested into a new cattery at Godmancheser why cannot this be split 1M to Heydon, 1M to Godmanchester to utilise all of the already available services?
Further consideration and reading will be taken and another update provided shortly but in the meantime
KEEP SIGNING, KEEP SHARING, KEEP WORKING TOGETHER.