Northop Graduate Leads Campaign To Build £500,000 Animal Rescue Shelter

A Wrexham Glyndwr University graduate is leading a fundraising drive to build a £500,000 animal rescue shelter in north east Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kim Johnson, a former Animal Studies student, wants to erect a facility caring for unwanted and lost pets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Supported by staff and students at the University’s Northop site and animal organisations in the region, Kim has founded a new charity – WILDA – and wants to provide work placements for students and volunteers, as well as offering pet therapy, an activity centre and educational workshops. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The mum-of-one – whose daughter has autism – has championed the Flintshire campus since graduating and even set up a library there in past months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Joined by students Sarah Hughes and Danielle Henson her first target is to garner £5,000 so they can register WILDA before drawing-up proposals and building momentum for the project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s going to take time but our aim is to build the shelter in the Mold or Northop area so it becomes a safe haven for animals and can be used by the University and rescue organisations,” said Kim, from Minydd Isa. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have events in the pipeline, including an arts and crafts day for children and a music night, so we hope to get the community behind us.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added: “The University was so helpful to me, especially the team at Northop; I really want to give something back. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Caring for animals is my biggest passion so there are many reasons for me doing this, and the area does need a new animal facility.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Originally from Heswall, Kim discovered she was dyslexic during the second year of her degree and was given study skills support to help her achieve the qualification. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Her love of animals and desire to support the University is what spurred her on. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are putting a five-year plan in place because this could be something of a local attraction as well as an educational and care centre,” added Kim, who also has a PGCE from Wrexham Glyndwr. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“North Clwyd Animal Rescue and other organisations are behind us and want to make this happen – there is a real desire out there and we want to capitalise on that. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I received so much support from the team at Northop, as have so many other students over the years, that I really want to give something back. I could not have got through university without their guidance and understanding.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​