Why we currently cannot have in house volunteers, work experience students, or visitors 🏡🐦
We are often asked if people can volunteer inside the rescue, come for work experience, or visit to see the birds. We completely understand why. People care deeply, want to help, and are curious about what goes on behind the scenes. We never take that support for granted, and it means a lot to us that so many people want to be involved 💚
At the moment though, the rescue is run from inside our home. It is not a separate public building with visitor areas, staff on site all day, and safe access for outside people. Because of that, we are simply not able to have visitors come into the rescue itself.
We both work as well, so the rescue is not manned all day every day. That means we cannot safely supervise extra people at all times, and in this kind of environment proper supervision really matters.
Insurance is also a major factor. Our cover does not allow unqualified people to enter and work inside the hospital area. That includes volunteers, work experience students, and visitors. As frustrating as that can be, it is something we have to take seriously.
There are also important health and safety issues to think about. We have sharps, medications, disinfectants, clinical waste, and birds receiving treatment 💉🧴 Wild birds can also carry infections such as salmonella, along with parasites and other illnesses that can spread between birds and sometimes to people. Rescue work has to be run with strict hygiene, quarantine, and biosecurity, and extra people coming in and out of the space increases the risk.
Most importantly, we have to think about the birds 🐤 Sick and injured wildlife need peace, quiet, and as little stress as possible. Extra noise, movement, and unfamiliar faces can unsettle them and affect recovery. These birds are not here for display. They are vulnerable patients fighting to get well.
Young birds are even more sensitive. Too much human contact can lead to imprinting, which can damage their chances of coping once released back into the wild. Even the kindest interaction can sometimes have the wrong outcome.
Because the rescue is based in our home, there is also the issue of privacy and safeguarding 🏠 However much people may want to help, opening up a private home based hospital environment is just not something we can safely do.
There is a practical side too. Training, supervising, and managing extra people takes time and energy, and that time has to stay focused on feeding, cleaning, medicating, and monitoring the birds already in our care.
So although we are genuinely touched that people want to be part of what we do, we cannot currently have in house volunteers, work experience students, or visitors within the rescue. It is not because we do not appreciate the support. It is because we have to put safety, legality, privacy, and the welfare of the birds first ❤️
We really hope that one day things will be different. If we are ever lucky enough to have a separate rescue building, proper insurance in place, and the site manned all day, then yes, absolutely, we will be crying out for helpers 🙌
Until then, there are still so many valuable ways people can support us, from donations and fundraising to transport help, sharing posts, and helping at events. Every bit of support matters, and every bit helps us keep going 💚
