- 30 SGN volunteers fixed and repainted memorial benches and tidied storage containers at an animal charity in Kent.
- The team learned about how The Big Cat Sanctuary has rehomed several poorly treated lions abandoned in Ukraine.
- The work was completed through SGN’s Community Action Programme, which supports local charities.
Volunteers from energy network SGN recently gave The Big Cat Sanctuary a much-needed makeover to get ready for their public open days this summer.
The sanctuary plays a vital role in global conservation efforts, including rescuing big cats from conflict zones. In 2024, it rehomed four lions abandoned during the war in Ukraine – giving them a safe and permanent home.
Across two days, 30 members of our Systems Operations team visited the Smarden-based sanctuary to spend time fixing, sanding and repainting 23 memorial benches, as well as clearing a shipping container of promotional items, constructing shelves and helping the event team to catalogue the contents.
The visit was part of our Community Action Programme, which gives our people a day of company time each year to help a charity or organisation of their choice, with hundreds of colleagues helping their local communities every year.
The volunteers met the sanctuary’s staff to learn about how they help maintain a global stud book of big cats to protect the various species from extinction while raising public awareness of the importance of protecting against loss of diversity in the gene pool.
Last year, the sanctuary also rescued four lions from Ukraine who were believed to have been kept illegally and then abandoned by their owners in the war zone, with one being kept in a flat. The lions only survived after being found by military forces as they cleared their way through occupied areas.
Matt Smith, Head of System Operations at SGN, said: “Over two sunny days, nearly 30 of us swapped keyboards for paintbrushes and got stuck into restoring the sanctuary’s memorial benches, each with its own story and legacy. There were a few splinters and some accidental paint streaks on trainers but the results were fantastic. Learning about the sanctuary’s global rescue work was inspiring and spending time together in such an incredible setting made the whole experience unforgettable. We also got to meet the true stars of the day – the big cats themselves. There’s nothing like locking eyes with a majestic lion to make you forget about email notifications.”
Paola Ponticelli, Event Co-ordinator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “The SGN team were absolutely fantastic during their time with us, lending invaluable support to our maintenance team in preparation for our Open Days 2025. Their positivity, teamwork, and can-do attitude shone through on both days, and they tackled every task with enthusiasm and care. At The Big Cat Sanctuary, we deeply value the time, energy, and passion our volunteers bring. Partnerships like this – where companies dedicate time to meaningful causes – make a real difference. SGN’s commitment has been truly inspiring, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.”
