Wildlife charity under threat

[Kymba]

Saw this on the News this morning. managed to find this after on the WEB.


A wildlife charity that rescues thousands of animals a year is under threat because it cannot meet its rising costs.

Volunteers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service dash across the county every day to the aid of injured foxes, Badgers, deer, Hedgehogs, seals, swans and other wild creatures.
But the charity's popularity means it is finding it hard to pay for the increasing volume of call-outs.
Now boss Trevor Weeks says for the first time this month, the service has more invoices than it has funds available.
He said: "We are virtually broke. There are bills we can hold off paying so we can cover it, but we are extremely short of funds at the moment."
Mr Weeks says an average call-out costs the charity £65, or £200 for a deer hurt in a road accident.

Last year there were 2,210 incidents and so far this year there have been 760, with the busiest season just beginning. In the past year there has been a threefold increase in the number of calls about Fox cubs.
Last year the service responded to 45 deer call-outs and has already had that number of calls about deer this year.
The charity needs about £40,000 a year to survive. In the past it has received money from legacies, but has not had one for about 18 months and would prefer to rely on a more regular source of income such as standing orders set up by supporters.
It is staffed entirely by volunteers, who rescue everything from cygnets to seagulls that have fallen off roofs.
Mr Weeks said: "A lot of people don't give to animal charities because they don't think it is helping humans.
"Our service does. People call us from the roadside because they have hit a Badger or seen a Fox lying injured. Of course these people are extremely distressed. On some occasions they have spent half an hour ringing round to get someone to help."
Although the service receives a number of calls from Eastbourne Borough Council and Sussex Police, it receives no public funding or money from the RSPCA or RSPB.
Mr Weeks has been working with the rescue service for 22 years, initially part-time as a teenager. Recently he has been suffering from severe migraines and high blood pressure, which he believes is the result of stress from work and under-funding. The service sometimes has 50 calls a day.

It is attempting to set up a critical care unit at Horsebridge Vets in Horsebridge, near Hailsham, where it will be able to reduce its vets' bill by ordering medication at cost prices and provide hospital care. It needs £15,000 for equipment.
When this is set up it will save on fuel as volunteers sometimes have to make a 20 or 30-mile trip at the moment to take an injured animal to hospital.
Wild injured animals can sometimes have to wait three or four hours at present for emergency treatment at a vet's. Mr Weeks said: "Wild animals deserve much better care than they are currently getting in this area. It isn't the vets' fault. They help them out as much as possible."

[Boddie]

I cant understand why an average call-out costs £65. What is this £65 for?

Surely the person requiring the call out is paying for the telephone call?
How much fuel is going into the vehicle? What sort of vehicles are being utilised?
Is the 'volunteer' being paid? Are they claiming 40 pence per mile?

I can understand a deer having to be treated would cost money but £65 for an average call-out seems excessive.

It is stated that the charity needs £40,000 a year to survive.
It is stated that the average call out is £65.
There were 2,210 incidents last year.

2,210 x £65 is £143,650, then there is the equipment.

I dont understand this.

[eeyore]

if they are a registered charity overa certain size they have to file accounts which can be veiewed on the charity commision website - i think i'll go and have a quick look will post the link if i find them

[smartie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

if they are a registered charity overa certain size they have to file accounts which can be veiewed on the charity commision website - i think i'll go and have a quick look will post the link if i find them

I had a look and they are there.

Extract from the Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales

Their 2005 accounts are the latest on record and show expenditure of £23k just exceeded by income. They are a relatively new charity and seem to have been building up vehicles and facilities.

[StuartDH]

Sounds like good value for money to me and probably quite a stressful job

I wish them the best of luck in getting their funding as these rescue centres and hospitals often do a great service for the British countryside.

[jennyb]

This is, of course, the same charity that is mentioned in the thread started by Mazthegob http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...lp-urgent.html.

I would have thought that the charity would be better served by a well thought-out fundraising campaign rather than Maz's panicky post to a forum such as this one which we all thought was a scam and would not touch with a bargepole.

Heightening awareness via newspapers, TV and other media is a much better idea. Hopefully, the news item that you saw, Kymba, will be more successful. I wish them luck.

Jenny

[Kymba]

Having worked for London Wildlife Rescue as a volunteer I know how expensive it is to keep one of these places going and how much they depend on the public for money and food, blankets, Towels and newspaper. The centre i was at nearly had to close down several times due to lack of money, Luckily Locals and local businesses rallied round to help them out (again). They have been turned down several times for Lottery grants and other funding, which really angers me As they will give money readily to The Arts and other Rich peoples Pleasures.
I really hope they can get the funding they need to keep going. I will be keeping track of what happens to them.

[eeyore]

many thanks to the olympic bid the lottery isnt giving readily money to anyone at the moment

I dont think anyone is doubting that WRAS need funding to keep going , but they dont do themselves any favours by being disingenous about their costs - if their total outgoings in 2005 were a tad over £23K and they are currently looking for £40k per annum you have to wonder where they got the £65 per call out figure from because as bod indicated above that adds up to considerably more.

I would also question the wisdom of building an expensive critical care centre when the barely have the money to cover running costs.

Despite these misgivings i wish them luck although I will not be donating myself as my charitable giving in this area goes to our local wildlife hospital andto the Badger group.

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by eeyore

many thanks to the olympic bid the lottery isnt giving readily money to anyone at the moment

I dont think anyone is doubting that WRAS need funding to keep going , but they dont do themselves any favours by being disingenous about their costs - if their total outgoings in 2005 were a tad over £23K and they are currently looking for £40k per annum you have to wonder where they got the £65 per call out figure from because as bod indicated above that adds up to considerably more.

I would also question the wisdom of building an expensive critical care centre when the barely have the money to cover running costs.

Despite these misgivings i wish them luck although I will not be donating myself as my charitable giving in this area goes to our local wildlife hospital andto the Badger group.

A Lot depends on how large an area they cover and distance they have to go for a rescue. The one i worked in covers all Croydon Area and London so it does involve major expenses sometimes. We had to operate on a swan that was badly injured and the Op cost £1000. A lot has to do with the fact that they will do everyting they can to save an animal if they can. But they will also put it to sleep if the odds are against it surviving.

I do understand what your saying though
I also wasn't looking to get people to give money. I was just bringing it to members attention to show how all of these places are struggling to just stay afloat. This is something I am very passionate about having seen first hand the great work they do
It is right to support your local ones if you can.

[Boddie]

Hi Kymba

Can you explain why the Op cost £1,000? What did the £1,000 pay for exactly?

[eeyore]

i imagine that a lot of it is vets bills - being private medicine they are not what you could describe as cheap just an emergency call out can rush you 50 notes plus - of course some vets give wildlife hospitals their time pro bono but not all do so.

last time i took an injured Badger to the vet (removal of a snare embeded in its neck) the total cost was just over 150 notes not counting the costs of drugs etc for ongoing care

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Hi Kymba

Can you explain why the Op cost £1,000? What did the £1,000 pay for exactly?

Besides the cost of the medicines etc used during the Op, The swan had been badly mauled by something and needed a metal plate and its leg had to be pinned, It also had several major Deep Bites that needed severe Treatment due to infection. Then all the after care until it could be re- released which was nearly 2 months.
But saying that he went on after release to find a mate and fathered Three families that I know of..
This was 5 years ago now and as far as I know he is still around in the Local Pond and healthy. The centre check on him regularly.

[Boddie]

I am absolutely gobsmacked as I spend all day in theatre and know exactly how much operations cost, whether they be palliative or cosmetic, and £1,000 is a heck of alot of money.

[eeyore]

I see what you are saying mate but but how much opperations cost , and how much the vet charges arent going to be the same thing - the vet has to make a profit like any other buisiness at the end of the day.

if you take my Badger example above their is no way that a quick blast of aenesthetic gas, afew minuites work with wire cutters , some antibiotic powder and a few more minuites suturing actually cost £150 but thats what the bill was

also i would imagine that carrying out corrective surgery on weird one off cases , on species on which you dont normally practice is going to cost more than doing opperations on a routine basis.

animal drugs also can cost more than their human equivalents - probably because there is a much lower volume demand and thus you dont get much in the way of bulk discount.

as regards the swan if you reckon that ever vet visit costs you a minimum of 30 notes just for their time in seeing you then 2 months after care with weekly visits is going to account for a quarter of the cost then you have food , antibioutics etc, heating , transport costs etc - stack those up and i would expect that the actual op on kyms swan only cost 500 or so and thats including the vets profit.

[Kymba]

Your probably Right Pete. Its unbelievable how the costs mount up. People just dont realise.
It has to be a very big passion to open one of these centres the expence is so phanominal, and constantly risies yearly.
But thank god for these people and thoses that support them