Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

AWF seeking animal welfare experts to join Board of Trustees
The charity welcomes applications from anyone with a serious interest in AWF's work, and has the skills, passion and time needed to help tackle animal welfare issues.
BVA charity looking to recruit four to five new trustees.

The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) is calling for veterinary professionals and animal welfare experts to join its Board of Trustees.

Created to improve the welfare of the UK's animals through research, education and debate, the British Veterinary Association's (BVA) charity is seeking four to five new trustees. 

Applications are welcomed from veterinary professionals and animal welfare professionals, who work in any related area, from primary care to the commercial sector or academia. 

AWF's Chair of Trustees, Julian Kupfer, encouraged prospective applicants: “As a trustee of AWF you play a really active role in the charity’s work. This is tremendously rewarding as you know you are making a demonstrable impact on improving animal welfare in the UK as well as the most fantastic opportunity to keep learning.

“If you think you can contribute the time, share your knowledge and want to make a meaningful contribution to the charity’s work then we would encourage you to find out more and apply.”

With a hands-on role in the AWF's important role in animal welfare, trustees will attend three meetings per year as well as the AWF Discussion Forum event. 

In addition to these duties, the new trustees will be expected to sit on at least one of the charity's sub-committees.

Deidre Carson, equine veterinary surgeon, shared her experience of being a trustee since 2019:
“Being a Trustee for AWF has been stimulating and, at times, challenging. 

“Stimulating because I am working with people from a wide range of animal welfare-oriented backgrounds and challenging because I am having to learn new ways of thinking about issues that haven’t previously crossed my radar. 

“It is also stimulating to see how many people are trying to drive higher welfare standards across so many different species and how AWF can help to support that work.”

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 15 August 2022. For further information or to apply for the role, visit animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk/become-a-trustee/.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.