Why are you changing your name?
We’re changing our name to make our purpose instantly clear – while keeping the same mission, values and life-changing work to transform the welfare of working animals worldwide.
Why are you changing your name when you’ve been SPANA for so long?
For more than a century, our incredible supporters have helped us protect working animals and support the communities who rely on them. As our work grew across countries and cultures, we learned that the name SPANA didn’t always explain – at first glance – what we do or who we help.
The decision to change our name followed extensive collaboration with supporters, donors, colleagues and partners across different countries. We’re also proud to say that our founder’s family supports these changes too.
Our new name isn’t about leaving our history behind; it’s about making our mission easier to understand, recognise and support. Our focus remains exactly the same: practical, compassionate action that transforms the lives of working animals and communities every day.
Has your work changed?
The welfare of working animals remains firmly at the heart of everything we do.
We’re dedicated to transforming the welfare of working animals in greatest need globally. By increasing access to skills, knowledge and resources – and campaigning for policy change – we’re building a world where working animals are healthy and valued, communities are stronger and livelihoods are more secure.
We have the same mission, values and life-changing work to transform the welfare of working animals worldwide. And your support remains as important as ever.
Why are you changing your name and identity? I liked your old one.
We understand that many people felt a strong connection to our previous name and identity – it’s been part of our journey for a long time.
With so many worthy causes seeking support, it’s more important than ever that our work is visible and understood. Our own understanding of working animal welfare has evolved. At the same time, the growing climate crisis has intensified the challenges working animals and their communities face, creating more need for our support than ever and changing the way we work. Against this backdrop, we now do so much more than provide a veterinary care service for working animals; we’re a charity that’s transforming the welfare of working animals and supporting the marginalised communities who depend on them around the globe.
I give a regular gift to SPANA, do I need to tell my bank?
No. Although our name has changed, our bank details haven’t. Your standing order and direct debit payments should continue without interruption. The only change you’ll see is how your donation appears in your bank statement. If you give a regular gift through your mobile phone, you don’t need to take any action. Messages will start coming from our new charity name. Your gifts will continue to improve the lives of working animals. If you have any questions, If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
I’ve written a cheque to SPANA, will it still be accepted?
Yes. Cheques made out to SPANA will still be accepted. There’s no need to write a new cheque. Any donations made in this way will continue to help working animals around the world.
What if I’ve left a legacy to SPANA, do I need to update my Will?
No, you don’t need to update your Will. As our charity number (209015) hasn’t changed, your legacy will continue to reach us exactly as you intended. Thank you for choosing to support working animals around the world through your legacy gift.
Will any SPANA materials be wasted?
We’ve planned the transition to our new name and identity carefully to minimise waste as much as possible. Over recent months, we’ve been strategically running down existing stocks of printed materials so they’d be used before our new name and identity were introduced. Managing this changeover responsibly and cost-effectively was a key part of our planning.
Will you be doing anything differently?
For over a century, we’ve been dedicated to improving the lives of working animals. While we started in North Africa, we now work with partners in countries across the Middle East, Asia and Latin America and Africa. Since those early days, we’ve transformed the lives of working animals and supported their communities around the world by working with partners to build local skills through sharing knowledge and practical support. Now, we’re working to improve the welfare of even more working animals, by campaigning on their behalf at a national and global level, too.
Our mission remains unchanged – but to help us make an even greater impact on the lives of working animals, we’ve redefined who we are with a new name and identity. Together, our name and identity now reflect the true scale of our work, giving us a bold, unified presence that connects across cultures and languages, helping us to raise global awareness of an often-overlooked issue. We’re now even better equipped to inspire support, build more partnerships, share powerful stories and drive lasting change for working animals all over the world. As the voice for all working animals, we’ll ensure that the positive impact working animals make to people’s lives is impossible to overlook.
Will you still be recognisable? I’m worried I won’t know it’s you.
From the working animals and communities we reach to our supporters, donors, colleagues and partners across different countries, you’re all incredibly important to us. That’s why we’re making sure that our communications will be as clear as possible. Over the next few months, you may notice that our old name and logo will appear alongside our new name and identity on some of our communications. That’s so, as everyone gets to know our new name and identity, they’ll continue to be reassured we’re the same organisation with the same mission at our core – to transform the welfare of working animals.