East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) is holding two VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT DAYS on Thursday 16th June 10am till 8pm and Saturday 18th 10am till 1pm at WRAS Casualty Care Centre, Unit 8, The Shaw Barn, Whitesmith, BN8 6JD.
Anyone interested in learning more about how to volunteer with the charity can come along on the hour to find out more about helping with the charities 3-4hour weekly "feed and clean" shifts or becoming a rescuer or helping with organising events, fundraising and training, plus people to help with DIY construction of aviaries and more.
Trevor Weeks has been volunteering with East Sussex WRAS for over 26 years now and says "looking after animals is a commitment and this is the one thing people find really difficult when volunteering with WRAS, these animals cannot fend for themselves and whilst in care we have to ensure they are all fed, watered, medicated and given the care they need. We are looking for volunteers who are prepared to commit to helping us out, no prior experience is required, but the roles suit people who are calm and patient. We can take on volunteers over the age of 16 only; those under 18 must have parental consent."
WRAS deals with a wide variety of casualties like hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, pigeons and doves, swans, birds of prey and much more.
We are one of only a few wildlife rescue charities which tries to operate 24 hours a day, but this is becoming harder and harder as volunteers struggle to put in the hours due to demands on them from their paid employment, health or family. "My partner Kathy and I frequently have to put aside our own plans for WRAS to help cover for volunteers off ill, on holiday or called into work and it does put a strain on our relationship and our health trying to deal with calls round the clock 7 days a week. I know I can't expect people to put in the same level of commitment which I do, and therefore we are looking for several people to help by just committing to 3-4 hours once a week to help with the feeding and cleaning or to dedicate 1-2 days a week being based at our Casualty Care Centre helping to be on call and responding to call-outs as well as other volunteers to help with DIY and organising event."
WRAS's new Casualty Care Centre which opened in September 2010 has seen the need for volunteers at the centre double in the last year.
"It has been a privilege volunteering with WRAS and getting to see and handle wildlife which you normally just see dead on the roadside or at a distance. It does have its sad moments but also many great moments when casualties are rescued, nursed back to health and then returned back to the wild" said volunteer Sue Archer.
"On these two days we will have a presentational video running and a couple of volunteers present to talk to people about volunteering and what is involved, the main casualties rooms to allow casualties peace and quiet to help with their recovery. Our centre is located on the A22 between Hailsham and Uckfield at the northern end of the village of Whitesmith, a WRAS hedgehog logo will be on the roadside to assist with people finding the centre, but please come along and find out more" said Trevor Weeks.
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Press Contact: Trevor Weeks, Director, East Sussex WRAS, 07931 523958
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