Blue Cross

Registered charity 224392 · since 1965bluecross.org.uk·United Kingdom·Updated 31 October 2026

At a glance

£25,000

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2024

From filed accounts

A small fraction of the prior year (£276k in year to 31 December 2022).

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

For a small nonprofit, the stated fit is narrow: the only programme with a published grant is the Veterinary Care Fund, which pays for emergency or one-off treatment through private vet practices across the UK, with a maximum grant of £300 and an average of £214.
Only veterinary practices can apply to it, so owners and other charities should ask their vet to assess the case and apply on their behalf.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but treatment must take place on the day of application or within a week, and evidence must be supplied within two weeks, so timing is tight.
Do not apply for treatment already carried out, routine care, preventive treatments such as neutering or vaccinations, or specialist services such as chemotherapy or physiotherapy.
The annual report gives total giving of £25,000, which may include grants to individuals, so any request should be modest.

Overview

Blue Cross is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 224392).

Blue Cross is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 224392) that exists to encourage and promote kindness to and the protection of animals and to educate the public in responsible animal ownership. Its work includes veterinary treatment for sick and injured pets, caring for and rehoming unwanted animals, and educating the public about responsible pet ownership. Its Veterinary Care Fund works with private vet practices across the country to help cut the cost of treatment for pet owners who cannot afford it. The annual report gives total giving of £25,000, which may include grants to individuals, and the Veterinary Care Fund's maximum grant is £300.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Blue Cross aims to encourage and promote kindness to and the protection of animals and to educate the public in responsible animal ownership. Its activities include providing veterinary treatment for sick and injured pets, caring for and rehoming unwanted animals, and educating the public about responsible pet ownership. The Veterinary Care Fund works with private veterinary practices across the country to reduce treatment costs for pet owners who cannot afford them. It supports emergency care or one-off treatments expected to make a positive impact on a pet’s life. Blue Cross also makes grants supporting animal welfare work, including help for pets affected by war.

Themes

Animal protection
Responsible animal ownership
Emergency veterinary care

Geographic Focus

United Kingdom.

What they don't fund

Veterinary Care Fund only:
- treatment has already taken place
- routine vet care
- Preventive treatments – neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, flea and worm treatments
- Specialist services – chemotherapy, hydrotherapy, spinal surgery, acupuncture, physiotherapy or any specialist consultations

How to apply

Owners should ask their vet to assess their circumstances and decide whether to apply; the vet applies for funding on their behalf. Treatment must take place on the day of application or within a week, and treatment evidence must be supplied within two weeks.

Who can apply:

Veterinary Care Fund: The Veterinary Care Fund grant scheme is open to applications from veterinary practices across the United Kingdom.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

United Kingdom

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Blue Cross.

Petplan Charitable TrustFixed deadlinesGave £345k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2020	£36,049,000	£35,900,000	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2020
year to 31 December 2021	£37,474,000	£37,311,000	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£45,925,000	£41,188,000	£276,000	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£43,979,000	£44,583,000	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£50,636,000	£50,724,000	£25,000	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2022

£276k grants

YE 2024

£25,000 grants

Grants paid stayed within income across the 2 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2022: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.

— No grants figure for those years.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.