Christmas Charity Focus: The Cinnamon Trust
The Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity which seeks to relieve the anxieties, problems, and sometimes injustices, faced by elderly and terminally ill people and their pets, thereby saving a great deal of human sadness and animal suffering. The Trust was founded in 1985 by Mrs Averil Jarvis whose determination and dedication has ensured that the manifest need is fully addressed. The name Cinnamon is in memory of Mrs Jarvis’ beloved Corgi, Cinnamon, who sadly passed away in her 17th year just as Mrs Jarvis was starting her work to develop the charity.
What does the Cinnamon Trust Do?
The Trust’s primary objective is to respect and preserve the treasured relationship between owners and their pets. To this end it works in partnership with owners to overcome any difficulties that might arise. A national network of over 15,000 community service volunteers has been established to provide practical help when any aspect of day to day care poses a problem - for example, walking the dog for a housebound owner.
A national fostering service is provided for pets whose owners face a spell in hospital - volunteers take pets into their own homes and supply love and care in abundance until owner and pet can be reunited.
When staying at home is no longer an option, their Pet Friendly Care Home Register lists care homes and retirement housing happy to accept residents with pets, and providing previous arrangements have been made with them, they will take on life time care of a bereaved pet.
The Cinnamon Trust also provides long term care for pets whose owners have died or moved to residential accommodation which will not accept pets. Arrangements are made between owners and the Trust well in advance, so owners do have peace of mind in the knowledge that their beloved companion will have a safe and happy future.
When a pet is in the Trust’s care either short term or long term because the owner is in care, the owner is kept in touch with visits, if possible, or regular photos and letters.
Poldarves Farm Sanctuary
The Cinnamon Trust runs 2 home from home sanctuaries, one of which is the Poldarves Farm Sanctuary for Bereaved Pets. Set in multiple acres of land, Poldarves Farm in Cornwall is home to a number of bereaved pets who have sadly lost their owners and cannot be rehomed due to factors such as their age or being medically dependent.
The Sanctuary is a peaceful haven full of green space, comfortable lounging areas, home-cooked meals and wonderful people for these pets to spend their remaining time with.
Poldarves Farm is home to a variety of dogs, cats, horses, tortoises, ducks, squirrels and other happy pets who have found their forever home after the sad loss of their owners.
In the grounds of the farm, there is a memorial garden, where the animals who have passed on are laid to rest and commemorated. It didn’t feel like a sad place at all, it felt like a wonderful happy ending for these much-loved animals in a place where they’d spent their remaining months or years, getting nothing but love and attention.
Where does the trust’s funding come from?
Their funding comes from the generosity of the general public and our national network of community service volunteers who become fosterers and volunteer their homes and free time to provide practical help for pet owners that are experiencing difficulties.
How many people does the Cinnamon Trust help?
Each year they help over 32,142 people and 41,342 animals.
An example of the valuable work that this fantastic charity carries out was helping Norah with her beloved Billie and Jamie. With Norah having been frail for some time, the Cinnamon Trust volunteers visited daily to take Billie and Jamie for their walks, meaning that they could remain living with their Mum who loved them and gained so much from them still being with her. The Cinnamon Trust were privileged to be able to give Norah peace of mind by promising to care for Billie and Jean for life when she passed away. Inseparable companions, they both came to Poldarves Sanctuary when Billy was 13 and Jamie was 7. By the time Billy died two years later, Jamie had new friends to help him though – he’s still very happy and much loved.
To find out more about The Cinnamon Trust or to make a donation please visit their website www.cinnamon.org.uk
