SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 52 Pig Rescue Sanctuary of the Year 2024 & Best Porcine Assisted Therapy Provider 2024 Founded in March 2016, Curly Tails is a registered charity based in Milton Keynes that has spent more than eight years rescuing unwanted pet pigs and providing them with safe, loving homes. Aside from looking after these animals, Curly Tails also operates the Curly Tails Wellbeing Centre, where visitors can spend time with these wonderful animals and boost their own mental health and wellness in the process. Both of these endeavours are operated by Founder Jane Scott, whose passion is the beating heart of this remarkable charity. Since Curly Tails is the only charity in England registered exclusively for porcine (pigs), the work it is doing in this field is as unique as it is truly special. With a mission to create a corner of the planet that is in total harmony and where humans and animals are at peace, Curly Tails gives these rescued pigs an opportunity to live the life they were bred for – one that is free from pain, fear, and suffering. All of this in a natural environment where they can have fun and be themselves until a forever home is found. An extension of this mission is the aforementioned Curly Tails Wellbeing Centre, a location which wonderfully complements the charity’s harmonising approach by providing porcine assisted therapy in a space that offers a reciprocal approach, meaning that it benefits both visitors and pigs alike. A tranquil, nonexploitive environment that helps thousands, regardless of age or background, visitors from across the UK benefit from the six acres’ worth of beautiful, light-wooded land in Buckinghamshire that this sanctuary calls home. On the back of this dual commitment, it is no surprise that Curly Tails is using the platform it has built to educate people about the importance of treating animals with care and compassion, providing them with aid when they need it, and prioritising their welfare. Just as with the above, this too is a reciprocal process, and the sanctuary is immensely proud to today be able to offer everything from care home visits to one-on-one therapy, and it works closely with the likes of the NHS, the Prison Reform Service, Action4Youth, and addiction centres. Beyond this, Curly Tails also welcomes schools, scout troops, and private tour groups, and it gladly takes on everyone from enthusiastic students in search of work experience to recent graduates, DofE placements, and even larger volunteer groups seeking to make an impact on their local community. ‘Impact’ is the keyword here, and this has been a common theme across Curly Tails from day one, serving as the foundation for its evolution, and ensuring that the charity is today at a point where its legacy will continue indefinitely. The constant growth and well-deserved success experienced by Curly Tails over the past eight years can largely be attributed to Jane Scott, who has nurtured it at every stage and been rewarded for her efforts with a wealth of awards and recognitions. “I have been awarded the BCAe for my work in education and wellbeing, along with the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award for community”, shares Jane. Other accolades include being named in both Acquisition International’s 2023 and 2024 Influential Businesswoman Awards. Curly Tails itself has similarly been on the receiving end of industry acclaim, and aside from featuring in Acquisition International’s Non-Profit Organisation Awards in both 2023 and 2024, the charity was also recently named as the Most Ethical Education Programme and Animal Rescue & Welfare Organisation for the second year running by Global Livewire. Finally, Curly Tails is also incredibly proud to boast Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) accreditation, both as a learning and alternative provision centre. Such commendation means an awful lot for Jane and the team at Curly Tails, as being respected for their moral values, integrity, and honesty is much more important than the financial success that too has been achieved. Having taken an empty field and transformed into an area that is comprised of 40 permanent animal areas, a café, shop, undercover seating, therapy rooms, and much more – including a pig-themed Santa’s grotto that is perfect for the upcoming festive season – Curly Tails is certainly deserving of this praise. We happily add to Curly Tails’ ever-expanding trophy cabinet with this duo of awards and invite our readers to follow the links below and learn more about this wonderful charity’s equal dedication to the welfare and happiness of both pigs and people. Contact: Jane Scott Company: Curly Tails Web Address: https://curlytails.org/ & https://curlytails-wellbeing.org/
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