Resources for Bat Groups

Here, you can download a range of information specifically relevant to local bat groups.  

If you would like further information, or if you have any comments or suggestions for additional resources that your group would find useful to have on this page, please contact BCT's Bat Groups Officer.


Information Sharing

Bat Group Mail-outs: BCT sends regular information bulletin's to bat groups and local bat volunteers.  Recent issues are available on-line.
Browse the Bat Group Mail-out Archive

Bat Group Blog: Find out what other bat groups are doing and/or publicise your own bat group projects on BCT'sbat group blog.  
Read the Bat Group Blog

The Bat Group Forum: This is an event held three times a year, bringing together batworkers from across the UK to meet and discuss bat-related issues.  
More information on the Bat Group Forum


Funding Opportunities

Bat Group Support Fund: Each year, BCT supports a number of small-scale, local, practical bat conservation projects  through the Bat Group Support Fund.  A proportion of the fund is also used to provide a limited number of bursaries for attending the BCT National Conference. 
More information on the Bat Group Support Fund

Awards for All'Awards for All': Awards for all grants are available in all four countries in the UK.  The scheme awards grants between £300 and £10,000 (the maximum varies between countries) for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. 
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/
In the past, this fund has been used by bat groups to purchase new equipment and materials for training, and to cover costs of raising awareness. 

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Awards for All scheme will come to an end in March 2009. From 1 April 2009 each of the lottery distributors supporting the scheme will have their own small grants programmes up and running. Visit the Awards for All website for further details.

Community Spaces: Community Spaces is a £50 million open grants programme that is managed by Groundwork UK as an Award Partner to the Big Lottery Fund. The programme helps community groups create or improve green and open spaces so that the quality of life in neighbourhoods across England is enhanced.  For instance, perhaps your group could work with a public land owner to develop and maintain a bat garden.
http://www.community-spaces.org.uk/
Example project: working with the community to develop and maintain a bat garden  


Awards and Recognition

Pete Guest Award: The Pete Guest Award is given in memory of Pete Guest; the award is given to batworkers who have made a major contribution to bat conservation.  Nominees are voted on by the at the autumn Bat Group Forum and the award presented at the BCT National Conference.  this year's winner was Tom McOwat.  Previous winners include Tony Hutson, Phil Richardson, John Haddow and Phil Burkinshaw.   A list of all past winners and nominees is available from BCT's Bat Groups Officer. 

Batworker profile (NEW): Every month or so we hope to champion local bat workers by profiling them on our website.  If there's someone in your group who's perhaps a long-standing and repected member; or maybe a new member who's brought fresh ideas/energy the group (and wouldn't mind being featured on our site!) please do tell us about them. All we'll need is a couple of paragraphs about which group(s) their in, what they do and a photo. 
Go to the current Bat Worker profile.


Other

Leaflet & Publication order form: BCT leaflets and publications are available free of charge for use at events and shows, or for distribution amongst members - although we're always very grateful for contributions towards postage and packaging! 

BCT Affiliation: Bat Groups can affiliate to BCT on payment of a fee of £50 a year.   (Concessionary rates for new and small groups are also available, and can be discussed with the Bat Group Officer).  An important benefit of affiliation is that the Bat Group is covered under the BCT's Third Party Public Liability Insurance for an indemnity of up to £5 million.  To find out more about additional benefits, please see our Guide to Affiliation.

Training: Head to the Training section and download the latest BCT Training Brochure.

 

For the full range of BCT's publications, please visit the publications page.