RSPCA, Ray Goodfellow

“The RSPCA has been on the Commission’s register since 1964, however we’ve been established much longer than that. We started life in 1824 as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and gained the word ‘Royal’ in 1840 with permission from Queen Victoria.

It’s our aim to promote kindness and to prevent cruelty to animals. And, like all other charities, the Charity Commission is here to make sure we live up to this. However, it doesn’t just regulate the sector; it also provides advice and guidance.

I’d say that in addition to our formal relationship with the Commission, we have a strong informal one too. We’ve been part of focus and discussion groups on a fairly regular basis for them and I’ve always found them to be very approachable.

There are hundreds of ways that the Commission benefits our work – often it’s day-to-day admin duties, the things that keep the organisation ticking over. One example that springs to mind of a bigger impact was back in 1994 when, thanks to their help, we were able to establish the Freedom Food scheme. They approved the loan that enabled us to set this programme up – and in 2008 alone, 350 million animals benefited from higher welfare standards because of it.”