In 1997 Nina Cordoray Downes set off as a volunteer to Noah's Ark Animal Shelter in Crete. Unlike animal shelters in Britain, Noah's Ark was struggling to provide even the basic needs of adequate food and shelter for the 600 animals there.

Something had to be done to help.

Nina's plan was not only to help finance the work being carried out at Noah's Ark, but to start a charity that would aim to help prevent suffering and promote kindness to other animals abroad. On returning to England the difficult task of setting up Action for Animals as a registered charity began. Registration was finally completed in March 1998.

Since then Action for Animals has, with your help, managed to raise over £100,000 for animals all over the world, including Egypt, Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Action for Animals is now also registered as an official Spanish charity and has a charity shop in the Andalusian village of Competa where Nina now lives.