At APES CIC and APES Shelter & Rescue, our priority has always been and will always be the welfare, safety, and long term future of the animals in our care 🐾❤️
Over the past few weeks, many of you have reached out with concern, support, and encouragement following our announcement that we must relocate. We are incredibly grateful for every message, every donation, and every word of kindness 🙏💬
Today, we want to share a clear and honest update on where we are, why we are moving, and what comes next.
🌟 A Positive Step Forward: A New Premises in Sight
We are pleased to share that we have now identified a potential new premises in St Helens that meets our operational, welfare, and accessibility needs 🏢✨
We will be viewing this property on Thursday, and if everything aligns, we hope to begin formal discussions shortly after 📅🤞
This location has the potential to give us:
• Safer, more stable facilities for our animals 🐶🐰🐍
• Clear, individual utility billing 💡📄
• Improved infrastructure and connectivity 🌐⚙️
• Long term security for our rescue operations 🔐❤️
While nothing is final yet, this is the most promising opportunity we have had since our relocation process began.
📖 Why We Are Having to Move
We believe in being open with our supporters. You deserve to know exactly why we are in this position 💬🤍
When we originally took on our current premises, we shared the building with a construction company, OSCO Homes, who occupied the lower floor.
⚡ Shared Utilities and Unclear Costs
From the start, this meant:
• Electricity and gas were shared 🔌🔥
• Bills were paid via the landlord 💷🏠
• Usage could not be separated ❌📊
• We had no visibility over actual consumption 👀❓
Despite these challenges, we accepted the arrangement because suitable premises for animal rescue are extremely rare, and we did not want to lose the opportunity 💪🐾
🚧 A Difficult First Year
In our first year, we encountered another major obstacle.
The building had been deregistered by a previous tenant, meaning it was not officially recognised by the council.
As a result:
• We could not obtain broadband or essential services 📡❌
• We could not easily prove our occupancy 📝⚠️
• We had to wait for Royal Mail to formally register the address 📮⌛
• Many operational systems were delayed 🖥️🕰️
This caused significant disruption and unexpected costs 💸😔
During this period, our expenses exceeded our income, leading to debt with utility providers and placing strain on the rescue’s finances.
💷 Rising Bills and Lack of Invoices
Throughout our tenancy, we have consistently paid approximately £700 per month and sometimes more for electricity and gas 😟⚡
However:
• We have never received detailed utility invoices 📄❌
• We have not received regular rent statements 🧾❓
• We have had no breakdown of charges 📊🚫
All payments were made directly to the landlord, with no transparent accounting.
This made financial planning extremely difficult and left us without proper records.
🤝 Support and Then New Challenges
During the first year, OSCO Homes generously supported us through donations and practical assistance while they were operating in the area 💚🙏
When their work concluded, they moved on. Unfortunately, we did not have the funds at that time to take over the entire building.
Last year, a new tenant moved into the lower floor after storm damage affected their previous premises.
Soon after, issues began.
We received repeated complaints about:
• Noise 🔊
• Smells 👃
• Alleged pest problems 🐀❓
We cooperated fully with inspections, and when the landlord arranged pest control, it confirmed that we were not responsible ✔️📋
Despite this and the new organisation knowing we were a active rescue, staff members overheard comments indicating that this tenant was determined to see us removed.
This tenant is an IT consultancy company operating substantial electrical equipment, including servers 🖥️⚙️. Given the shared utilities, it is entirely possible that part of their energy usage was being charged to us, due to the bill just being halved and not calculated by each others usage.
📩 The Notice to Vacate
Last week, we received formal notice that we must vacate the premises 😔📬
We were informed that there is no outstanding debt.
When we requested payment records and receipts for our files, we were told that, under the tenancy agreement, invoices are not provided ❌📄
This leaves us without proper documentation, despite having supplied full organisational registration details when required.
This lack of transparency has made continued operation at the site untenable.
✅ Why Relocating Is the Only Responsible Option
At this point, remaining in the current premises is not sustainable.
We need:
• Transparent billing 📊✔️
• Proper documentation 📁📝
• Stable tenancy terms 🏠🔒
• A supportive environment 🤝💚
• Infrastructure suited to animal welfare work 🐾🏥
Our animals deserve better. Our staff and volunteers deserve better. And our supporters deserve accountability ❤️
Relocating is the only responsible path forward.
💰 The Financial Reality of Moving
Securing and preparing a new premises will involve significant costs, including:
• Deposits and legal fees ⚖️💷
• Initial rent 🏠💳
• Facility adaptations 🔧🛠️
• Transport and relocation 🚐📦
• Biosecurity and welfare compliance 🧼🐾
• IT and communications setup 💻📞
These are unavoidable if we are to continue our work safely and professionally.
🤍 How You Can Help Right Now
We cannot do this alone.
If you are able to support us, please consider donating:
💚 Make a Donation
👉 https://www.apes.org.uk/donate
💬 Leave Your Mark on Our Donation Wall
Donate via our special page created for this appeal. Leave a comment or just a donation it's up to you.
👉 http://www.apes.org.uk/help-us-move
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us move closer to stability 🌈🙏
🎓💼 Supporting Our Students and Their Futures
Alongside caring for our animals, APES is also a vital training and education provider.
We currently support 20+ students who rely on our organisation to continue their studies, gain real world experience, and progress to university or meaningful careers in animal welfare, conservation, and related fields 📚🐾
If APES were forced to close, these students would lose:
• Their placement and practical training 🧑🎓🔧
• Their pathway to higher education 🎓📖
• Their opportunity to build a stable, rewarding career 💼🌟
Keeping APES running is not just about buildings and bills. It is about protecting futures, opportunities, and livelihoods for young people who are passionate about making a difference ❤️
🌈 Looking Ahead
This journey has not been easy. But thanks to you, we are still standing 💪❤️
With a promising new premises on the horizon and a community behind us, we remain hopeful.
We will provide another update following Thursday’s viewing 📢📅
From all of us at APES CIC and APES Shelter & Rescue, thank you for believing in our mission, standing with us through uncertainty, and helping us protect the animals who depend on us 🐾💚
Together, we will build a stronger future ✨🏠
