As you can see below – the crew are assembled and ready to GO!
We are absolutely delighted and incredibly proud to announce that Friends of the Animals has been chosen as Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year for 2026.
For more than 30 years, Friends of the Animals has been providing vital care and support for sick, injured and unwanted animals. From beloved family pets to farm animals and wildlife, we are here when animals need us most. As demand for animal welfare services continues to rise, this partnership comes at a crucial time and will help us support even more animals and families across the Island.
We are incredibly grateful to Red Funnel and its colleagues for recognising the importance of animal welfare and the powerful bond between people and their pets. Knowing how much comfort, companionship and mental health support animals bring to people makes this partnership even more special.
Our work supports a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, wildlife and birds. We provide emergency veterinary treatment, ongoing care and practical support to help families keep their animals healthy and together wherever possible. Around 90 per cent of our work is carried out by dedicated volunteers, whose commitment makes everything we do possible.
Our founder, Helen Sinclair MBE, said she was delighted that Friends of the Animals had been chosen as Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year for 2026. For nearly 36 years, the charity has helped thousands of animals across the Isle of Wight, while our preventative work – including the Pet Food Bank and spay and neuter programmes – has supported tens of thousands of animals and people in the community.
As Helen often says, Friends of the Animals is, for many animals, their last chance at life. This partnership with Red Funnel will help us save even more animals and continue our mission to be there when no one else can be.
Over the next 12 months, Red Funnel will be raising funds for Friends of the Animals through a range of events and initiatives, as well as customer donations at ferry terminals and onboard sailings. We are hugely thankful to everyone who will be involved in supporting us throughout 2026.
We would also like to congratulate Red Funnel’s outgoing 2025 Charity of the Year, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, which raised more than £42,000.
We are so excited to work alongside Red Funnel in 2026 and cannot wait to see the positive difference we can make together for animals across the Isle of Wight and beyond.
How beautiful is the celebration cake (images below) – featuring the ferry and the Solent, and of course many of the animals we assist.
To read more from Red Funnel about their Charity of the Year, head HERE 🐾
Posted on January 8th, 2026