Hugs takes the protection of your information extremely seriously. We are therefore writing to let you know about a cyber-security incident involving one of our trusted service providers, Beacon CRM, which we use to manage our supporter database. We are sorry to be sharing this news. We know this will be concerning to all. We want to reassure you that we’re taking it seriously and that your safety is our utmost priority. From what we know so far, there is a possibility that some personal information stored within Beacon’s systems may have been accessed without permission. However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that any of this information has been misused.

What has happened? 

Our database provider, Beacon have told us that on 29 July 2026, they discovered unauthorised access to their systems, caused by compromised login credentials. Their investigation is ongoing with the support of specialist cyber-security experts and we are being updated on a regular basis on their findings. Based on the information currently available from them, they have confirmed that copies of their database backups were made, and while it hasn’t been fully confirmed that data was taken away from their systems, the evidence so far suggests this is likely. At present, we have no evidence that your personal information has been misused. However, as a precaution we wanted to make you aware of the incident.

What data may be involved?

The information we hold about you in Beacon may include:
• your name
• postal address
• email address
• telephone number
• donation history
• Gift Aid declaration (where applicable)

Importantly the ICO have advised the data is not high risk (we do not keep referrals or similar sensitive information on this system) and for our supporters to keep an eye out for phishing emails. Please be assured that The Hugs Foundation does NOT hold any financial records such as card details or bank account information within Beacon.

What Beacon is doing.

Beacon has told us that they are:
• running a full forensic investigation with independent cyber-security specialists.
• reported the breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and are following their recommendations and those of their specialist cyber-security experts.
• working with law enforcement and relevant regulators.
• monitoring the dark web for any sign this data has been shared or sold – so far, nothing has been found
• resetting passwords and strengthening authentication on affected accounts.

What we, The Hugs Foundation, are doing.

We are:
• working closely with Beacon as they investigate further.
• updating security measures for any software we have linked to Beacon.
• reviewing our own security practices and access controls.
• documented the incident under our data breach procedures and are following regulatory obligations, we have notified the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as well.
• assessed the potential risks to individuals, with support from the ICO, who have confirmed it is not high risk.

What you can do.

There is no action you need to take immediately. As a precaution, we recommend you to:
• be alert to any unusual and unexpected emails, calls or texts claiming to be from The Hugs Foundation or Beacon. We will never ask you to confirm your personal details or share credit card/debit card or bank account details.
• avoid clicking links or opening attachments unless you are confident they are genuine.
• never share passwords or one-time codes with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
• contact us directly using the details below if anything seems suspicious, rather than replying to a suspicious message.

We sincerely apologise for the concern this incident may cause and appreciate your understanding while the investigation continues. Protecting the personal information entrusted to us by our supporters is extremely important. As the investigation continues should we receive further information that affects you, we will contact you again as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Laura Dennis, Charity Manager via laura@hugsfoundation.org.uk

In May we had the pleasure of welcoming Harriet, The High Sheriff of Cornwall to Hugs. Harriet has chosen young people in Cornwall as her focus for her shrieval year so it was amazing to be able to share the well-being support we deliver for children and young people.
With the sun shining it was lovely to showcase our beautiful animals and great facilities.

We would also like to give a shout out to PR4Photos for capturing the morning.

We are delighted to introduce our new trustee, Natalie Wilkerson. Many of you will know or have met Natalie, who has been involved with Hugs for several years. For those who don’t and those who want to find out more, please see the below information from Natalie. 

“I have over 30 years’ experience in HR and Recruitment in both the corporate and charity sectors and have run my own Consultancy for a number of years. Passionate about recruiting, specifically volunteers, many of my roles have also included safeguarding responsibilities. I have a wealth of experience in creating and implementing policies and procedures to bring efficiency and dynamic changes to organisations. In addition, I have worked or volunteered in animal welfare for over 10 years and since a child reading about Ada Cole’s mission to be the voice for horses and animals in general, I developed a passion to be able to make a difference to their welfare. There have always been animals in my life and almost always they have been rescues that came with histories which were very sad. Currently we share our home with 2 horses, 1 Shetland pony, Harry the dog, 8 cats and a tortoise which keeps me pretty busy but with lots of time outside in the fresh air! I am also the Branch Coordinator for the Launceston & District Cats Protection and enjoy, with a great team of other volunteers, being able to transform the lives of cats and kittens that come into our care. I have been involved with The Hugs Foundation since 2021, and with previous trustee experience, I am delighted to become a trustee for this wonderful charity. I hope my skills and experience will help to continue the charity’s success in the well-being of both equines, other animals and humans.”

Yesterday we were delighted to welcome Martin Clunes, alongside the fantastic Lisa and CEO James from The British Horse Society to The Hugs Foundation.

Martin is a long-standing equestrian and passionate advocate for horse welfare, and The British Horse Society plays a leading role nationally in improving standards, education and welfare across the equine world.

It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work here in Cornwall, share experiences around the realities of equine welfare on the ground and highlight our well-being work too. Thank you so much to The Hugs team for everything they do to showcase our charity 💚 Collaboration like this matters and ultimately, it’s our ponies who benefit 💜 Watch this space 🤩

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It is with great sadness that we write to let you know that Andrew Bowden, our deeply committed and compassionate founder, has passed away.

Andrew was, in every sense, a force of nature. A man of deep conviction, compassion and the tenacity of a thousand men. He always stood up for what he believed in and never stepped back from a challenge he felt truly mattered. That determination enabled him to achieve so much in his life, including building a successful business, but it was his passion for animals and the environment that led him to create our wonderful charity, The Hugs Foundation.

Through Andrew’s vision and commitment, Hugs has achieved an extraordinary amount in the 9 years we have been running. More than 235 equines have been rescued and over 210 rehomed, alongside countless farm and small animals, and over 1,100 children, young people and their families have been supported. His leadership and generosity have left a lasting mark on Hugs and on the wider community we serve and his incredible legacy and vision will continue to shape our work for many years to come.

In accordance with Andrew’s wishes, there will be no funeral or celebration of his life. However, Andrew’s wife, Katie, and the Hugs team will be creating a dedicated orchard that will be enjoyed for years to come by all who visit Hugs. We hope this will provide a quiet place for reflection and remembrance.

Can you help us continue Andrew’s legacy? A regular monthly gift means we can plan ahead with confidence and focus on supporting those who need us most for as long as they need us. If all our supporters gave £2 a month, it would add up to over £26,000 per month, enabling us to keep Hugs doors open. These simple, recurring acts of kindness become a steady source of hope and help us change lives. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. For those who would like to remember Andrew through leaving a gift in his memory, you can become a Hugs Hero by clicking here https://thehugsfoundation.beaconforms.com/form/656e5db6

As we mourn Andrew’s passing, we also give thanks for a life lived with purpose, courage and deep compassion. Andrew believed fiercely in protecting the vulnerable, in standing up for what matters and in creating something that would last for years to come. Kindness, dignity and respect are always at the centre of everything at Hugs. The lives changed, the animals saved and the values he embedded in Hugs are his true memorial.

Andrew’s legacy lives on, in every animal cared for, every child supported and in the determination to keep his vision alive. We will honour him not just in words, but in continuing the work he began with such passion and conviction, carrying out his vision every single day.

Andrew has played a vital role in supporting your community. Can you help by supporting us, so his incredible legacy can live on?

In Andrew’s words, “Take Care”

The Hugs Team