The chief executive of the RSPCA has described the challenges of leading a charity that attracts high levels of media attention.

In an interview on the Third Sector Podcast, Chris Sherwood said: “The thing about the RSPCA is that everything you’re doing is like being in a goldfish bowl.

“I’ve seen stuff we’ve done in the organisation then appear in the press several days later.”

Sherwood, who is leaving the charity at the end of the year to succeed Sir Peter Wanless as chief executive of the NSPCC, has overseen major structural changes at the RSPCA and an extensive redundancy programme in 2020.

He also spoke of the “difficult tightrope” faced by the charity as it positions itself as “a pragmatic, evidence-based organisation” in debates on animal welfare, intensive farming and climate change.

“We’ve got some people who want us to become a plant-based organisation, and they’re making a lot of noise around the RSPCA at the moment and I respect their views around it.

“But 94 per cent of the population still consumes animals and animal products. And some people don’t believe we should worry too much about those ethical considerations about how we treat animals,” he said.

“I think we’re doing it right when we’re carrying the public with us and explaining the kinds of change that we want to see in society. 

“But unfortunately that does mean at times that some people aren’t very happy with us. And we do get those arrows coming in from various different sides.”

Sherwood acknowledged there have also been challenging debates internally: “I’ve learned in my time that when you’re getting into ethics and values, it is quite hard to bring everybody on the same side. So it’s trying to find those connections where we do agree. 

“Being able to knit together coalitions and find ways to collaborate around things you do agree on is quite important to make this job a success.”

Listen to the full interview with Chris Sherwood on the Third Sector Podcast.