Animal Friends Insurance supporting the National Bat Helpline

We are pleased to announce that the National Bat Helpline Out of Hours Service will start this Friday (24^th of May 2019). Just in time too, since we heard about the first wild born bat baby (known as a pup) this week. One of the organisations that have lent their support to the work done by the National Bat Helpline is Animal Friends Insurance who have very generously donated £10,000 toward the bat care aspect of the work done by the Helpline

The Helpline plays a critical role in educating enquirers about the legal protection of bats, the fact that they pose no threat to buildings or their human occupants, and their importance to the UK’s environment and economy. A large proportion of the enquiries that the helpline receives every year relate to roost enquiries within England, this work is currently carried out on behalf of Natural England (NE) and is partially funded directly by them in the form of a contract. For the rest of the enquiries, the Helpline relies on generous donations from Bat Conservation Trust members, supporters and donors as well as from charitable trusts and foundations.

Come rain or shine the National Bat Helpline is available to answer bat related queries throughout the year. The Helpline is manned by Officers from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on weekdays. Officers also provide support for trained volunteers who work on the Out of Hours emergency service during the months when bats are most active, namely May to September (for further details see https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/national-bat-helpline).

The donation from Animal Friends will support our efforts to offer advice to anyone contacting the Helpline in relation to an injured, grounded or orphaned bat. If a bat is found on the ground, on an outside wall or in an exposed area, it will be vulnerable and in need of urgent help. Apart from giving advice via our website or directly via email or phone, the Helpline team will, if necessary, also put enquirers in touch with members of the UK Bat Care Network. The Network maintains a list of trained and vaccinated bat carers, wildlife hospitals and bat ambulance drivers throughout the UK. The network is made up of volunteers who can assist with injured or grounded bats that are found by the general public. Network members don’t volunteer directly for The Bat Conservation Trust, but by choosing to be listed on the UK Bat Care Network, they can help ensure that people who find grounded or injured bats are referred on to them. If you are interested in joining the Network or want to find out more, see: https://www.bats.org.uk/support-bats/volunteer/bat-rehabilitation.

We are very grateful for the support Animal Friends and all other donors and funders who support the Helpline. To donate towards the bat care aspect of the work done by the Helpline see https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/batcarehelp.