About | Kit Wilson Trust for Animal Welfare

Welcome to The Kit Wilson
Trust for Animal Welfare.

It all started in 1975 when Katherine Wilson, a well known cat show judge, left a small legacy to be used for the benefit of animals in need.
We now care for over 500 animals and birds at our rescue centre in East Sussex, where many of these animals will remain with us for life.

We are dedicated to Animal Welfare

What we do

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We will:

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Rescue abandoned, unwanted, ill-treated, injured and neglected animals
Offer the highest standard of care for these animals until they are rehomed or rehabilitated, and for as long as they remain in our care
Spay and neuter pets in our care, in line with our founding policy

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Here at the Kit Wilson Trust, the safety and wellbeing of all animals, from the smallest to the largest, is our number one priority. From rescue to rehoming, their welfare is always at the centre of what we do. We have over 500 animals and birds at our Animal Rescue Centre in Hadlow Down, nestled in the glorious Sussex countryside. From here, we carry out our work of animal rescue and rehoming, as well as the daily care routines needed for the wellbeing of all our many residents.

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Over the years, the Rescue Centre has also become a permanent home for many of our animals, who for various reasons it is not possible or desirable to rehome. These include horses, goats, birds, as well as some of our dogs, cats, and small mammals. Although we work closely with other wildlife rescue services in the area, we still carry out wildlife rescue ourselves, and operate a Wildlife emergency help line, open every day between 9am and 5pm.

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‍Our Founding Policy

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The cornerstone of the Trust’s founding policy was to promote the spaying and neutering of pets, in order to reduce the number of kittens and puppies being born, and so reducing the number of animals needing rescue and rehoming. That policy remains as important today as it was at the Trust's beginning, in 1975.
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Frequently asked questions

Haven't found the answer you were looking for? Perhaps our FAQ's could help. If you're still needing help, please get in touch.

Where can I volunteer?

We have a variety of volunteering opportunities available to suit different skills, interests, and levels of commitment. Whether you’re looking to get involved hands-on or help behind the scenes, there’s a role for you:

Shop Volunteer – Help run our charity shops, serve customers, sort donations, and create eye-catching displays.
Donation Hub Volunteer – Sort and prepare donated items at our Ridgewood hub to support our shops.
Online Sales Volunteer – Assist with photographing, researching, listing, and packaging items sold via our online platforms.
Fundraising & Events Volunteer – Get involved in local fundraising activities and represent us at community events.

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We are not currently recruiting for volunteers at our Animal Rescue Centre. Please follow our social media accounts and keep checking in on our website to stay up to date with any future opportunities.

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Visit our Volunteering page to find out more about the volunteer roles that are available.

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Already sold? Apply online HERE!

Can I come and visit the Rescue Centre and look for an animal?

You are welcome to visit our reception area between 10am and 4pm, but the Centre itself is not open to visitors, except by prior appointment when adopting an animal from us.

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Can I volunteer with the animals?

We are not currently recruiting volunteers at our Animal Rescue Centre.

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Unfortunately, we’re also unable to offer volunteering opportunities involving animals, including work experience, work placements, or for youth schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

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To keep up to date with future opportunities, please follow us on social media or check back on our website

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Please see our Volunteering page for more info on the roles we have available.

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Are there any rules about whether someone can adopt an animal?

We don’t have a rigid set of rules about who can adopt from us. What we aim to do is assess each potential home according to the animal being adopted and their particular needs. However, there are certain guidelines that we follow, such as not homing cats in houses on busy roads, or not putting animals into situations where they will be left alone for long periods of time.

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What happens when I adopt an animal?

You will be required to sign an adoption form which includes an agreement to have the animal spayed or neutered, if this hasn’t already been done, which sometimes happens due to age or health reasons. You will also be asked to agree to return the animal to The Trust if for any reason you are unable to keep it. Please remember, we are always happy to give advice if there are any problems following the adoption.

Please see our Adopt an Animal page, or contact us for more information.

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Still have questions?

If you’d like to know more about how you could help the animals at The Kit Wilson trust, whether that’s through donating, re-homing an animal or volunteering. Please get in touch and we’ll respond as soon as we can.

Get in touch