Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary

Rescuing animals and promoting ethical Veganism since 1994

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Vegan Farm Animal Sanctuary

Welcome to FRIEND Farm Animal Sanctuary

We are a farmed animal sanctuary located on a beautiful 10 acre site in rural Kent, UK. We were established in 1994 by the late Marion Eaton and in the following years we have rescued upward of 3000 animals. Our mission is to offer a lifelong, no-kill, free-roaming, safe-haven, forever home to unwanted, neglected and abused non-human animals, while educating about animals, veganism and ecological sustainability. Please explore our website to find out all about us.

We are a registered charity number 1173318

About FRIEND

FRIEND is a farm animal sanctuary with nearly 200 animals. They find their way here through being unwanted, abused, neglected or abandoned. The sanctuary offers a free roaming (as far as possible and safe) home to pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, cows, goats, sheep and one alpaca who thinks he’s a sheep, on a 10 acre site nestled in between the orchards and hop farms of rural Kent. We began over 25 years ago, founded by Marion Eaton, dedicated activist and warrior who sadly passed away in 2016.

FRIEND Farm Animal Sanctuary is run with an ethical vegan philosophy of education about animal welfare and the need for a world of compassion to all its inhabitants, fauna and flora alike. As well as educating visitors about the animals, we are working to make the sanctuary an example of ecological sustainability, for example planting native trees, rewilding and growing food.

Our mission

We are Sanctuary, sanctuary means to us a safe space, free from harm and oppression.

FRIEND is open for unwanted, neglected and abused animals.. We are educators too , teaching about animal sentience and care, veganism and ecological diversity and sustainable plant based food systems. We hope to contribute to a world in which humans and animals can live together with compassion and respect for each other and the Earth.

EXCLUSIVE VIP TOURS

We are now booking exclusive VIP tours of FRIEND with Mark Eaton.

We will also be hosting Public events during the Summer so check those dates out too. These tours are private and give a more personal experience than the larger events which suits many people.

The tour will last for 45 minute ( or there about) A personal guided tour of the sanctuary with Mark who has lived and breathed sanctuary life for over 17 years. You will get to meet all the animals and visit all public areas. Hear Mark’s great stories, learn all about the animals and sanctuary life. This would make a great surprise birthday treat or a special gift to yourself.

To make the day even more special there are some additional extras available including a personalised Birthday Be my FRIEND certificate and vegan Tea and Cake in our human area. These must be booked in advance of your tour.

Email us for pricing and availability- dates are booking up very fast.

Anti Oppression Policy

Here at FRIEND we have created a safe space for animals and humans to meet, This is an essential component to real and meaningful exchange. Once we make the connection we can no longer deny sentience. Once we accept sentience, we can no longer support the idea that animals are food or products to be bred, slaughtered and consumed for profit. This oppression of the vulnerable and innocent has no part in a future World. We would see an end to Animal agriculture and a change to resilient plant based food systems. Our founder Marion was a great campaigner and warrior in the animal rights movement, we are honoured that this is the foundation that today FRIEND proudly stands upon.

We clearly see that the oppression of animals is part of a wider system of oppression. In order for FRIEND to be a safe space, a Sanctuary for both animals and humans alike we have a strict anti oppression policy in place.
Anti oppression policy

We are at a pivotal point in history where we need to all make choices about the World we want to be part of , how will our future look? Here at FRIEND we are proud to stand firmly against oppression of all kinds. We feel its important that all humans onsite, including all staff and visitors recognise the importance of not oppressing others by word or action. We have a zero tolerance to oppression in all its insidious forms. Examples of oppression, which is not exhaustive by any means include aggressive language and aggressive acts. Language and deeds deemed sexist, racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic or speciesist.

Sanctuary is a place where you can come and be safe and this applies to everyone or it applies to no-one. We openly promote discussion and the sharing of ideas but we cannot tolerate any behaviour which wounds, fuels hatred and oppression. We further recognise the rights of all those who identify as women to feel especially confident that FRIEND is a safe space where they can be without threat of sexual harassment.

We further ask that those not adhering to our policy leave and choose not to support us.
We feel strongly that especially at this time it is vital that we take a stand. We wish to make it clear that there is no place for oppressive behaviour at FRIEND. There are increasingly fewer places where all can come and feel safe and respected . FRIEND will always be a safe space no matter what is happening outside. We will protect our animals and shield them from harm from outside and all those that come for sanctuary will find a safe space here too.

VOLUNTEER WITH US

We are able to accept a small number of essential volunteers. As an animal sanctuary charity we are ,at present, exempt from U.K tier restrictions during lockdown . We will always need voluntary help to provide the level of care we like to give here and we would especially like more local volunteers on a regular daily basis if possible. But of course we are flexible.

We do practise social distancing and other Covid-19 precautions on site in line with current Government recommendations. Regular handwashing is standard within the sanctuary as normal.

If you’re interested in applying please email us at charity@friendfarmanimalsanctuary.org

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what interests you about volunteering and what skills you may offer. We accept a wide range of people so don’t worry if you haven’t worked with animals before, its more important that you love animals and are open to learning how to care for them. At the moment we are only able to accept volunteers over the age of 18.

We are looking for:

  • Volunteers with animal care experience, especially those with medical knowledge to support our intensive care work.
  • Volunteers who love gardening and are able to help us with the Growing Greener project.
  • We are always in need of builders, carpenters, electricians, ground workers to help us with our infrastructure development.
  • We also would appreciate the help of any graphic designers or web designers too as we are hoping to develop the website and social media into something more dynamic.
  • We are looking for Artists who enjoy creating signs and pieces of Art for the site there are many diverse opportunities to contribute.

We are a safe sanctuary space for animals and humans alike. We do not allow any animal products onsite and operate a strict Anti oppression Policy which we urge you to read before applying to work as a volunteer. Thank You.

We look forward to hearing from you.

SITE ACCESSIBILITY

The site is flat, although it can be a little bumpy in the field. There is concrete and hard standing from the front gates up to the field, however the kitchen and toilets are in the field. The path up to the kitchen is grass but flat and compacted. The compost toilets have 4 wide steps up to them, and there is an additional accessible gender-neutral compost toilet at ground level, with a wide door. Any other questions please ask, we want to make the sanctuary as accessible as possible to everyone. Send an email to charity@friendfarmanimalsanctuary.org with ‘Accessibility’ in the subject line.

DOGS

We are sorry but please don’t bring your dog friends along.

Ways to Donate to FRIEND

BE MY FRIEND

We all need a FRIEND. You can become a BFF to our residents by sponsoring monthly. We will send you a personalised certificate and we hope to host a special friends day very soon.

PATREON

‘Patreon’ is an online community where you can pledge an ongoing monthly donation for the animals and in return get access to exclusive breaking news posts and behind the scenes sanctuary news. Monthly donations help us greatly to budget and plan ahead.

AMAZON

If you would like to buy something more tangible for the animals we have three updated wish lists on AMAZON. Please check them out and be sure to look through all 3 lists for some great ideas.

GO FUND ME

Please donate to our fundraiser Project Sanchez. We are asking for funds to completely renovate the sheep field to create two separate areas, warm and dry medical and treatment areas. We need your help.

 

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