Holly Spindler
Want to know how you can help animals this year? Continue reading for some top tips.
There’s no denying that animals need our help. Companion animals needing vet care, animals used for entertainment, and dogs forced to breed again and again in puppy mills. But there’s a group of animals who suffer in far greater numbers than all others combined.
Animals raised for food are born, raised, and slaughtered on factory farms in their billions. Over a billion chickens are killed for meat each year in the UK, alongside 55 million fishes, and thousands of egg-laying hens.
They don’t just face premature deaths. Whether kept in cages, or cramped and filthy barns, these animals are forced to live in conditions that make every minute of their short lives miserable.
Even their bodies are manipulated to cause additional suffering. Chickens raised for meat are genetically selected to grow so big, so fast that they face painful health conditions and many can’t even stand. Forced to lie in their own waste, that burns their skin, they truly are bred to suffer.
And while we know people aren’t going to stop eating animal products overnight, there are ways we can give these animals a better life.
At The Humane League UK, we are living proof of that. We’re a charity that is focused on helping animals raised for food. Since 2017, we’ve been changing the playing field when it comes to animal welfare. We're a small team, but we’ve tackled some of the world’s largest companies, and won.
But we’re only able to do that because of our incredible supporters. Together, we are strong.
If you feel like this year you want to be part of the change for animals, we’re sharing three things you can do right now.
1. Donate
We rely on donations from people like you, who want to do something to help animals, but are not sure where to start.
We’ll take your donation, and turn it into action. Whether we use it for lobbying the Government to improve animal protection laws, campaigns against companies to ensure they cut animal cruelty in their supply chains, or training volunteers to educate people about the plight of animals raised for food, you can be sure your gift WILL help animals.
We pride ourselves on being effective, guaranteeing your donation will be put to the best use in ending animal suffering.
In 2024, we were awarded Top Charity status by Animal Charity Evaluators, given to charities that work in ways most likely to produce the greatest gains for animals. This was the 11th year in a row we have received this recognition.
If you want a quick and easy way to help animals, donate today.
2. Take action online
The first step for us when persuading a company to improve its welfare policies is corporate outreach - simply meeting with them and talking it through. Unfortunately, some just don’t listen, or make excuses to continue treating animals in horrific ways.
That’s when our Campaigns team steps in.
We target companies in ways that they can’t ignore - through their social media, email, with petitions, and on the ground actions. We’re up against some huge companies, so we need the full strength of our supporters fighting alongside us.
Supporters who receive our emails, or follow us on our social channels, make up a network of thousands of activists across the world who take quick, online actions for animals. By spending just a few minutes a week, whether it’s on your commute, while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil, or your kids to get out of school, you can be part of big changes.
To find out more and sign up, click here.
3. Volunteer with us
Our volunteers are amazing. So we aim to make the time that they give worthwhile and fun. Our program is flexible and rewarding, with plenty of opportunities to meet our community, learn new skills, and, of course, make a difference for animals.
We work hard to offer a comprehensive induction and ongoing support and training to help our valuable volunteers develop skills and feel comfortable in the work they are doing.
Find out more about the program and what our volunteers love about their time at The Humane League UK.
If you want to be part of the change, but aren’t ready to commit to volunteering just yet, you can join one of our volunteer-led events. To find an event near you, click here.
