A new £20,000 Hull Feral Cats Legacy Fund has been established to support organisations responding to feral and community cat welfare across Hull and the East Riding.
The fund has been created thanks to a generous legacy donation from the estate of Mr & Mrs Milestones, administered by Jaycon Legal Solicitors, and entrusted to RSPCA Hull & East Riding CIO to manage as a restricted, shared resource for feral cat welfare activity.
The Legacy Fund is designed to support a sustainable, coordinated, and humane approach to managing feral cat populations — recognising that this work is complex, resource‑intensive, and most effectively delivered through partnership.
Fred Owne, CEO of RSPCA Hull & East Riding CIO said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to support the dedication and expertise of organisations working tirelessly for feral cat welfare across our area. This fund isn’t about any single organisation — it’s about valuing the commitment of those who care deeply about cats and giving them the support to work together. By taking a joined‑up approach, we can create something sustainable, coordinated, and genuinely impactful for the future.”
Why the fund is held by RSPCA Hull & East Riding CIO
RSPCA Hull & East Riding CIO has been entrusted to manage the fund because we are not a frontline feral cat rescue organisation. This allows the funding to be administered independently and fairly, without competing operational pressures, and ensures it remains focused on supporting the wider network of organisations and volunteers delivering feral cat welfare work locally.
The fund is not intended to support the core rehabilitation, or rehoming work of RSPCA Hull & East Riding. It is restricted entirely to feral and community cat welfare and exists to enable others to deliver that work more effectively.
How the fund will be used
Unlike a traditional competitive grant programme, the Hull Feral Cats Legacy Fund operates as a collaborative resource accessed by organisations engaged in feral cat welfare activity through the Hull Feral Cats Partnership.
The fund may be used to support:
- Veterinary costs linked to Trap‑Neuter‑Return (TNR), including neutering, worming, flea treatment and testing where appropriate
- Capital investment in shared equipment such as traps, crates and carry cases
- Recovery and welfare support for cats undergoing TNR
- Bulk purchasing and storage of essential shared items such as animal‑safe disinfectants and PPE
- Targeted work in high‑need feral cat colonies agreed through partnership working
Clear processes and governance is being put in place to ensure funding decisions are transparent, proportionate, and directed where they will have the greatest welfare impact. These will be finalised in partnership with local organisations at a meeting in the next few weeks.
A shared approach to long‑term change
Feral cat welfare work can place significant strain on community organisations and volunteers, often creating pressures that exceed the capacity of any single group. This legacy fund is intended to remove financial barriers, strengthen coordination, and support a more joined‑up approach that benefits cats and communities alike.
Through the Hull Feral Cats Partnership, the fund will also support improved cooperation, data‑sharing (where appropriate), and opportunities for organisations to share learning, challenges, and good practice.
The Hull Feral Cats Legacy Fund represents a long‑term investment in solutions — not short‑term fixes. By enabling organisations to work together and access shared resources, the fund aims to deliver lasting improvements in the welfare of feral cats across Hull and the East Riding.
For more information about RSPCA Hull and East Riding visit our website at https://rspcahull.org.uk