Christmas Big Give: A lifeline for bats

We are delighted to be part of the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge! For one week starting at midday on 3 December and until the 10 December (midday), every donation up to £5,000 will be doubled, thanks to The Reed Foundation and our pledgers. This means we could raise £10K; all donations we raise will go to the National Bat Helpline, our flagship service for the protection of bats.

Don't miss this great opportunity to DOUBLE your donation to help bats.

Since Bat Conservation Trust began in the early ‘90s we’ve been inundated with calls from people wanting advice about bats. So, in 2001, we started the National Bat Helpline (NBH). Back when it started, our ‘helpline team’ was only one person! Now, the NBH really is team, though still a small one, which includes many incredible volunteers. Every year they help around 10,000 people – and thousands of bats.

From rescuing orphaned bats to providing guidance on wildlife crime, NBH plays a key role in bat conservation and education. If a bat needs hands-on care, the Helpline provides advice and where possible connects callers with the UK Bat Care Network- trained volunteer bat carers, wildlife hospitals, and even ‘bat ambulances.’

Beyond rescuing bats, the National Bat Helpline plays a crucial role in public education, debunking myths and misconceptions about bat species. As our President Chris Packham said, ‘it is difficult to see how we would have made the significant gains to bat conservation in the UK without the National Bat Helpline.’

While some NBH funding comes from Natural England, it only covers advice for householders in England who discover bat roosts during small-scale home renovations or building works. It doesn’t cover the calls related to bat care - which make up two-thirds of all enquiries.

In recent years, financial pressures have put the future of the Helpline at risk. To maintain this critical service, we need your help. Your donation directly contributes to saving bats and supporting their conservation across the UK.

The UK’s bats play a crucial role in our environment. We are lucky to have 18 resident bat species in the UK and they make up almost a quarter of our British mammal species.

However, in the UK bat populations have declined considerably over the last century. And four of the 11 Red Listed British mammals at risk of national extinction are bats.

Find out more the threats to bats here.

But together we can protect these incredible creatures. Help us keep the Helpline going strong - every donation makes a difference!

Thank you to The Reed Foundation and our pledgers for helping us secure £5,000 in matched funds!