Our winter appeal for Carla Lane Animal Rescue

3 days ago

4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

DD Wilson winter appeal ad on black and yellow, with paw prints and text offering £50 to Carla Lane Animal Rescue per boiler install.

We saw a social media post about hungry animals at Carla Lane Animal Rescue.

"The poor things have no food in there. I can't be having that." Darren Wilson (Director)

So from 1 November, every boiler we install raises £50 for the rescue, and the appeal runs until the end of April 2027. We are also collecting tins of dog and cat food and other supplies through our engineers, and we would love your help.

DD Wilson Gas and Heating Engineers are backing Carla Lane Animal Rescue

Why we're backing Carla Lane Animal Rescue this winter

We are a family business, and the family in question loves animals. On 29 October, Darren wrote to the rescue on behalf of himself, his wife Claire, their children and the whole team. "As a family, we absolutely love animals," he told them. After seeing how hungry the animals were, "we felt we simply couldn't sit back and do nothing."

This is also a charity we know well. A few years back we designed and fitted a new central heating system in the cottage at the rescue, and we covered the labour ourselves. You can read about that job in how we helped Carla Lane Animal Rescue with their heating. For another animal story from our vans, read the time our heating engineers saved a dog.

The rescue is run by the registered charity Carla Lane Animals In Need (charity number 1031342), based at Fir Tree Animal Sanctuary in Melling. You can check its details on the Charity Commission register.

How does the £50 per boiler donation work?

For every boiler we install from 1 November until the end of April 2027, DD Wilson gives £50 to Carla Lane Animal Rescue. We will pay it over monthly through the winter, so the money arrives while it is needed.

Why these months? Darren explained it plainly in his letter to the rescue, and it comes down to when we can give the most. "Heating season is when our business is at its busiest, so this is the period when we know we can make a real contribution."

If you were already thinking about a new gas boiler installation, your job now helps feed the animals too. Our boiler buying guide is a good place to start, and you can also look at our boiler upgrades or the current boiler deals.

How can you donate food through us?

This is the part we are most excited about. Since Darren and the team started talking to customers about the animals, people have already been collecting food for us to pass on to the rescue.

If you have a visit booked with us, just hand any tins of dog or cat food or other supplies to your engineer, who will bring them back to the office for us. If you have no visit booked, get in touch with the office and we will sort out the easiest way to collect them.

Once we have a good pile, the team will arrange a trip down to the rescue to drop everything off. It does not have to be a boiler job, either, because a boiler service, a breakdown visit or a plumbing job all bring an engineer to your door.

Can you buy from the rescue's Amazon wish list?

Yes. The rescue keeps an Amazon wish list of the things it needs most, and you can find it here.

Buying from the list helps the rescue get exactly what it is short of at the time. That matters most in the colder months, when food can run low and every tin counts.

How else can you help without spending a penny?

Share this post. Darren has told the rescue that we will spread the word on our social media, on LinkedIn and through our wider network of business contacts, and every share puts the appeal in front of someone new.

If you run a business, mention the wish list to your team. Some workplaces run a food collection in the run-up to Christmas, and this one has a clear home to go to.

Supporting local causes is something we have done before. Past examples include helping keep Northwood Chapel warm and writing about warm people in cold homes. You can read more about our family business, or see what customers say in our reviews and testimonials.

Frequently asked questions

Which boilers count towards the £50 donation?

Every boiler DD Wilson installs between 1 November 2026 and the end of April 2027 counts. We donate £50 to Carla Lane Animal Rescue for each one, paid monthly.

Who pays the £50?

DD Wilson does. It is our donation to the rescue, made on behalf of the Wilson family and the whole team here.

How much does a new boiler cost?

It depends on the boiler, your home and what work the system needs. Our guide to what it costs to install a new boiler explains the main factors, and you can start with a quick quote. Finance Available, subject to status, through our finance options.

What food can I donate?

Tins of dog and cat food and other supplies for the animals are a great start. The rescue's Amazon wish list shows exactly what it needs most.

Do I need a booking with DD Wilson to donate food?

No. You can hand food to an engineer during any visit, or contact the office and we will arrange the easiest way to collect it. You can also buy straight from the rescue's wish list.

Do you cover my area?

We work across Liverpool, the Wirral, Merseyside and further afield. Check our areas we cover page, and get your heating ready with our autumn and winter preparation guide.