A student-led charity, which provides free veterinary care for the pets of homeless and vulnerably housed people, is going from strength to strength and is in more demand than ever due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Vets in the Community (ViC) was set up in 2012 by students and staff from the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and gave people access to free routine veterinary care at fortnightly clinics at a city centre base. Since then, the team have carried out more than 2,000 consultations.
In 2020 the team launched a purpose-built mobile trailer so they could take their services out into the wider community, and now people who have been referred to the service, can access the clinic each week at one of two locations in Nottingham – the King Edward Park and Forest Recreation Park.
Pets of eligible people can receive free routine treatments such as vaccinations, health checks, micro-chipping and treatment for worms, fleas and minor ailments. The team also provide advice on pet health care such as nutrition, husbandry and neutering.
In 2024 the team conducted 433 consultations across 45 clinics, totalling 135 hours, which is a 22% increase in consultations compared to 2023.
The charity also recently made it onto the Big Issue's top 100 Change Makers list for 2025 in the Health and Disability category.
Due to the capacity of the team, they can only currently offer their services to people who have been referred to them and are homeless or vulnerably housed. They accept referrals from, and work alongside numerous support services in the area, including The Big Issue, Framework, Emmanuel House, the Friary, Nottingham Recovery Network, St Ann's Advice Centre and Women's Aid Integrated Services.
Dr Kerry Williams, Clinical Associate Professor in Small Animal Practice at the University, is the academic who oversees the work done by the students, she said: "Being involved with Vets in the Community clinics is one of the highlights of my week. Seeing pre-clinical students getting their first experiences of client communication, developing their clinical skills, and working alongside students from other years is so rewarding.
"We also see the development of the students who serve on the committee as they grow in confidence, learn about the running of an organisation, liaise with multiple stakeholders, and show a genuine care for our clients. And all of this while providing much needed veterinary services for our clients. It really is a context where students, clients, animals and staff all benefit so much."
Ben Scawn, Fundraising Officer for ViC, said: "As a student, what makes Vets in the Community so rewarding is that it allows application of theory taught in lectures to the real world whilst also supporting members of our community in providing care to the pets they love. The clinics always offer a friendly and supportive environment, ensuring everyone who attends learns something new and feels a sense of contribution. It's immensely fulfilling to see the impact of our work on both the animals and their owners.
"We collaborate with several referral services, ensuring we reach those who will benefit the most from Vets in the Community. The support we receive from these partners is invaluable; with them, our work is much more effective and far-reaching."
The clinic is of vital importance to those in need. Working for the Big Issue and being with ViC since it started, I have seen first hand the appreciation and gratitude of a homeless/ vulnerably housed person having had their pets being looked at by a professional person. The students and staff do a fantastic job of looking after those who come to the clinics. Th clients see it as reassurance that their best, and in some cases only friend, only support mechanism is being looked after."
All of the work carried about by ViC is funded through charity donations and fundraisers organised by the students. People can donate here.
