South Coast & East Sussex Voluntary Network (pt 2)

2024. A review of the season.

Thank you so much for looking. ♥

With the busiest part of the (gull chick) season behind us for another year, only one thing is clear. There is still nowhere near enough volunteers to help... anywhere.

Again, with no support or acknowledgement from from national charities such as the RSPCA (head office) which resulted in a major spike in memberships on facebook seagull pages, Essentially, any gull chicks that were (and fledglings that continue to be) rescued were by volunteers. This year, some sites took in gull chicks, others closed their doors or were unprepared, and any established gull sites had to limit their numbers.. the volunteer shortage is affecting everyone.

As a result, both myself and our small group of volunteers were tasked with the following: Securing new locations for chicks outside of Sussex, rescuing and saving gull chicks from different vets (this year scheduled by one site for euthanasia) and arranging safe transfers, relying upon fosterers to help wherever possible in taking gulls into their homes. This is on top negotiating endless issues regarding trapped birds.

Other pressures for this group have involved issues at the newly restored Victoria Fountain in Brighton, where so many underdeveloped birds were found drowned or drowning, other issues at local parks, plus taking in more and more casualties, some of which many of us were not experienced with: The summer chick season became way too consuming so much so that all other wildlife had to be taken to local vets by finders. All this on top of endless criticism and abuse... not from the lovely people we try to help, but from within the sector itself which seems to be based on interfearance, power, egos and control. Our group is an entirely seperate entity as dealing with some wildlifers in Sussex is an absolute nightmare, and ma y in future become a public interest issue. The physical part season has also become too much for one rescuer to initiate so from 2025, I will not be involved on a full time basis to help. The last 6 years have taken the worst toll imaginable and while I hope to remain in the background to assess, take in casualties and continue to run and create awareness etc.. I cannot cope with another physical season without it affecting my own health even more and other aspects of everyday life, including my ability to drive.

Many gull chicks were NOT helped this summer and it is a even sorrier picture across the UK.

Gofundme: the clue and purpose of this fundraiser (and those before this one) is in the name. Costs raised and covered include bills, expenses, living costs (including car maintenence) and as founder, donations to sites (across the uk) Support for these lone sites and volunteers in the uk is almost non existent. All volunteer numbers and funding are at the lowest levels ever and in the last year a total of 40 wildlife sites have shut down (cited by www.helpwildlife.co.uk). Many more cutbacks and closures are forecast during the next 6 months.

As founder, the future looks uncertain. On a personal level, so many elements of what we do hang in the balance. So many successes have happened in the last 6 years. Our group has achieved a lot on its own merit and it is thanks to you it has happened.

Should this work continue to be further criticised or undermined, don't expect a lot to be rescued in the future. Many will be left on the streets and many volunteers have walked away. That said, new people have recently come along.

How we continue depends on more volunteers and as much support that we, plus other gull sites can get. Everywhere in the UK.

Thank-you