The second series of the Links Veterinary Training Initiative continues to go from strength to strength, as evidenced by the success of this week’s meeting in Leicestershire.
Hosted by BSAVA’s East Midland Region, at Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa in Hinckley with their wonderfully welcoming staff, we were delighted to be joined by a range of veterinary receptionists, veterinary nurses, vets and practice managers, educators, animal welfare charities and officers, as well as human service professionals from local authorities, safeguarding specialists and domestic and economic abuse professionals.
It’s hard to adequately describe the impact that these days can have. The subject matter can be difficult to hear, see and discuss; but it is essential that animal welfare and veterinary team professionals meet with their human services counterparts and do just that if we are to be able to drive positive change.
The in-person nature of these One Health, One Welfare events is invaluable, as we have much to learn from each other in terms of best practice; to understand the barriers to recognising and acting on abuse, and to realise that safeguarding really does trump everything! The involvement of speakers from various backgrounds, including Women’s Aid, the NSPCC, the RSPCA, policing, the Naturewatch Foundation, specialist domestic abuse animal fostering services, and The Links Group, demonstrates the need for a true multi-agency approach.
Nowhere is this more clear than in the afternoon sessions, where the magic really happens. The LVTI days are structured in such a way that facilitates better understanding of the roles that the “people people” and the “animal people” play in communities, and why they should and how they can work more confidently and effectively together to Protect Animals, Protect People.
Want to know more? We hope so! Join us as we continue this UK-wide series in 2026, when we celebrate 25 years of The Links Group. Our next stop is planned for Edinburgh on 24 March 2026, and you can secure your place by booking online at the BSAVA Scottish Region page. Keep checking back on our training page for more dates and regions across the UK which will be added soon.
We are indebted to BSAVA for their support of this second UK-wide series of multi-agency training days. BSAVA has been involved with The Links Group in a number of ways since our beginnings in 2001, and it was a huge pleasure and honour that we were joined by President Julian Hoad at this final in-person event of 2025. Thank you to Julian and all at BSAVA for their tremendous support.
