BENEFICIARIES
Each year different causes are chosen to benefit from Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign. Since our launch in 2016 we have raised nearly £200,000 which has made a big difference to our chosen, and very worthy causes. We hope, with your continued support, to make an even bigger difference in the coming year.
2023
NFRSA
Once again it was our absolute pleasure to gift £13,500 to The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals from our 2023 campaign.
NFRSA is a registered charity set up to promote the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family, namely that of the police, fire, border force and prison services. It supports the owners of retired dogs and horses by helping with veterinary bills and ongoing care
The NFRSA also helps the existing local charities who have already been working incredibly hard to provide this vital support, by promoting their work and sign-posting those who need help, or would like to offer help, to the established organisations.
For more information please visit their website nfrsa.orrg.uk
MURPHY’S ARMY PURPLE POPPY CAMPAIGN
This year saw a slight change to the way in which our funds were distributed. Previously around one-third of the monies raised went to our own charity Murphy’s Army to help animals in need on a general basis through our network of rescue organisations. As our Purple Poppy Campaign grows however a reserve is needed to fund the cost of merchandise, packing materials, postage and other essential costs. In 2023 therefore £10,500 was retained by MAPPC for its 2024 campaign.
£2,411 went to the They Also Served Memorial Fund, more news to follow on this fund soon.
And a special small gift of £222 was given to former Police Dog Baloo in recognition of the wonderful work she does.
THE HORSE TRUST
It was a further pleasure for us to once again support The Horse Trust and to gift £13,500 to them also.
For 136 years The Horse Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses has specialised in providing retirement and respite for working horses and ponies. These hard-working equine public servants have served our nation in the Police, the Army or with charities which use horses to help people
We also provide sanctuary to horses, ponies and donkeys who have suffered from cruelty or neglect and who are in desperate need of specialist treatment and care. More information about our work can be found at horsetrust.org.uk
2022
NFRSA
We were delighted to gift £13,500 to The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals from our 2022 campaign.
NFRSA is a registered charity set up to promote the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family, namely that of the police, fire, border force and prison services. It supports the owners of retired dogs and horses by helping with veterinary bills and ongoing care
The NFRSA also helps the existing local charities who have already been working incredibly hard to provide this vital support, by promoting their work and sign-posting those who need help, or would like to offer help, to the established organisations.
For more information please visit their website nfrsa.orrg.uk
MURPHY’S ARMY
A further share of the total was retained by Murphy’s Army to assist us in our mission of helping reunite lost and stolen pets with their owners, raising pet theft awareness and promoting pet safety, welfare and care.
To find out more about the great work we do please visit our main website murphysarmy.org
And a small amount went to a new and very special initiative by Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign – the They Also Served Memorial Fund.
HERO PAWS
It was a great pleasure also to gift £13,500 to Hero Paws.
Hero Paws is a registered charity supporting all services that employ working dogs including military, police, security, HMPS, conservation and search roles.
They offer an unbiased process that aids all dogs to retire whether that be from failed training, unable to meet their current training standards or they have come to the end of their service.
They help bridge the gap from service to general population, to search for and rehome to the perfect home. They offer continued support and guidance to make sure these dogs live out the retirement they deserve.
For more information about the great work they do please visit their website
2021
THIN BLUE PAW FOUNDATION
It was an honour to have the Thin Blue Paw Foundation as one of the beneficiaries of our 2021 campaign. They received £10,014.16, a great boost to their funds.
The foundation provides much needed financial support to retired police dogs and their owners across the UK.
Many people are unaware that retired police dogs do not receive financial support in their retirement from the force they served with, meaning the responsibility for their care and vet bills fall solely to their owner (ex-handler or member of the public). Unable to get pet insurance due to their working lives, many are left with ongoing vet bills which can amount to thousands. The foundation provides that support, so these unsung canine heroes can enjoy a long and happy retirement.
For more information about this very worthy cause please visit their website
MURPHY’S ARMY
A further third of the total was retained by Murphy’s Army to assist us in our mission of helping reunite lost and stolen pets with their owners, raising pet theft awareness and promoting pet safety, welfare and care.
To find out more about the great work we do please visit our main website murphysarmy.org
HILLSIDE ANIMAL SANCTUARY
The third and very worthy beneficiary of the 2021 Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign was Hillside Animal Sanctuary who also received £10,014.16. Much welcomed funds which will make a big difference to the animals in their care.
Hillside is home to over 4000 animals including several horses who have served with the Metropolitan and other police forces. They provide these brave horses with a home where they can enjoy a quiet retirement with open fields to relax and enjoy the rest of their days in the safety of the sanctuary.
Founded in 1995, Hillside provides a safe home for rescued animals, many of which had suffered neglect and abuse.
“We cannot put into words how much your support and kindness means to us and our rescued animals, so we want to say a big… Thank you!”
For more information about the great work they do please visit their website
2020
K9 HEROES
The charity was developed in 2018 after Emma Craigie Halkett BA(Hons) PG Dip AMM MA Adv Cert Vet Phys MIRVAP a British Veterinary Physiotherapist was impressed by the ongoing dedication of handlers and owners to their retired service dogs and their sometimes complex rehabilitation needs.
As you can imagine the donation was very much appreciated!
MURPHY’S ARMY
The remining half of the total was retained by Murphy’s Army to assist us in our mission of helping reunite lost and stolen pets with their owners, raising pet theft awareness and promoting pet safety, welfare and care.
To find out more about the great work we do please visit our main website murphysarmy.org
2019
THE HORSE TRUST
MURPHY’S ARMY
Another third of the funds raised in 2019, £13,577.37, was retained by our own Murphy’s Army to assist us in our mission of helping reunite lost and stolen pets with their owners, raising pet theft awareness and promoting pet safety, welfare and care.
To find out more about the great work we do please visit our main website murphysarmy.org
SMOKEY PAWS
The final third of the funds raised from our 2019 campaign was donated to another very worthy cause, Smokey Paws.
Smokey Paws are a not for profit organisation who provide life-saving pet resuscitation equipment to Emergency Services throughout the UK.
Their oxygen masks are specifically designed to provide essential care to pets in the event of a fire, saving as many lives as possible.
‘Thank you so much for your recent donation and support of Smokey Paws. Murphy’s army is such a strong charity and we are honoured by your donation of £13577.38.’
Our donation funded over 100 masks, which have hopefully resulted in many lives being saved.
2018
THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY FOUNDATION RETIRED HORSES SECTION
We were honoured to feature the Household Cavalry Foundation Retired Horses Section as a beneficiary of our 2018 Campaign .
Director of the Foundation Giles Stibbe OBE BA (Hons) comments ‘Thank you and all in Murphy’s Army very much indeed for the fantastic donation of £4,685.00. It really is truly appreciated as it will genuinely help’.
Horses are essential for the Household Cavalry’s ceremonial role and the Foundation are committed to providing support to organisations and individuals caring for their retired horses to ensure their needs are met.
For more information about the Foundation please visit their website http://www.hcavfoundation.org
MURPHY’S ARMY
Another third of the funds raised in 2018, £4,685, was retained by our own Murphy’s Army to assist us in our mission of helping reunite lost and stolen pets with their owners, raising pet theft awareness and promoting pet safety, welfare and care.
To find out more about the great work we do please visit our main website murphysarmy.org
COOL COATS
The final third of the funds raised from our 2018 campaign was used to purchase cool coats for Service dogs throughout the UK. These were recommended to us (and beautifully modeled) by the lovely PD Stella who had found hers to be a great help.
We were inundated with requests for the cool coats and were able to supply these to Police Dogs (both serving and retired), Fire Investigation Dogs, Prison Dogs, Search and RescueDogs and Guide Dogs.
Thanks to the help of our supplier, Animate Pets, nearly 250 coats were distributed and we hope these will make a big difference in the warm summer months ahead.
2017
FIRESIDE K9
We were very pleased to support Fireside K9 in our second Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign. Fireside K9 do an amazing job helping retired Police Dogs in West Yorkshire and were grateful to receive a cheque for £2,631 towards their funds.
MURPHY’S ARMY
The joint beneficiary of our 2017 campaign was our own Murphy’s Army who also received £2,631 which will be used to further their objectives of helping reunite lost and stolen pets with their owners, raising pet theft awareness and promoting pet safety, welfare and care.
2016
BRAVO WORKING DOG RESCUE
The very first Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign was launched in 2018 and our chosen joint beneficiary was Bravo Working Dog Rescue.
Bravo was created by Debbie Connolly to help the many retiring dogs from Police and Military and enable them to spend their retirement in comfort.
Thanks to the overwhelming support received we were able to present them with a cheque for £1,215 for which they were most grateful – ‘We thank Murphy’s Army for both their long campaign to help lost dogs and for the honour of being included in this Purple Poppy fundraising event.’
MURPHY’S ARMY
As an animal charity, Murphy’s Army was aware of the significance of the purple poppy, but volunteers had been unable to source these locally online. And so Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign was launched. We enlisted a team of volunteer knitters who willingly gave their time and materials to produce the first Murphy’s Army knitted purple poppies. Each one of them hand made with love.
And so the story began, £1,215 raised for Murphy’s Army to help animals in need today, and much-needed awareness raised of the contribution made and continuing to be made by our furry and feathered friends.