YOUR ROLE AS A VOLUNTEER DRIVER

 

As a Driver, you will be added to local 'Driver Teams' for your nearest Wildlife Rescues & Vet Practices, to support them to help wildlife casualties & orphans.

 

• You will be asked - by the WILDLIFE RESCUES who have you on their 'Driver Teams' - to either collect an already contained animal from a member of the public and bring it to them OR to take already contained wildlife to/from nearby Vet Practices for them.

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• You will be asked - by the VET PRACTICES  who have you on their 'Driver Teams' - to pick up an already contained animal from them, after a casualty has received emergency triage, to transport on to a Wildlife Rescue that will provide long term rehabilitation.

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You will not handle wildlife to begin with.  If you want to be trained in how to capture/contain a wildlife casualty/orphan, just let us at UKWT know and we'll help you to get that training from your local Rescues, who may then pop you onto one of their more advanced Driver Teams.  To start with however, with UKWT, we will just train you on how to best get animals from A to B, in high welfare conditions, so that they can receive emergency care.

 

We ask that you are polite and professional at all times (of course you will be!) and always drive safely and responsibly.  You are brilliant!

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YOUR ROLE AS A VOLUNTEER WILL NOT BE, UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY TRAINED BY THE WILDLIFE RESCUES (THAT YOU DRIVE FOR) TO DO SO...

 

...to capture a loose animal, to try and care for the animal yourself, or make any decisions about its care. 

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YOU WILL NEED

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- A vehicle which is taxed, MOT’d and insured. Please contact your insurer to make sure you’re covered for volunteer driving. See here for guidance - https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/motor-insurance/volunteer-drivers/

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- 2 (one large, one small) transport carriers (these exact carriers please) that we ask you to purchase (or have donated to you) on sign up.

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- A map, sat nav or map app on your phone.

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- A well-charged mobile phone with sufficient credit.

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- A torch (the one on your phone is fine if you have a camera phone).

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- Towels (with NO loose threads) to help keep the casualty comfortable, covered, and your car protected.

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- Disinfectant and hand sanitizer to prevent any spread of disease.

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- A hot water bottle.

 

 

IF THERE'S A TRANSPORT JOB IN YOUR AREA

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- You will receive a message/call (you will have been asked to join a Whatsapp group, in which you will see requests for help) from the Vets Practices or Wildlife Rescues that you drive for, asking if you are able to transport.  You say 'yes' if you're available and 'no' if you're not.  It's that simple.

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IF YOU ACCEPT A TRANSPORT 'JOB'

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[There's a lot of info below but transporting wildlife is really just very commonsensical.  You're given clear instructions for each transport - you're not left to just remember it all - and ALL of our Drivers feed back to us how easy it all is.]

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- Protocol for picking up from a Vet Practice/Member Of Public is...  [As a guide - Large carrier for hedgehogs, adult birds, fox/badger cubs, fawns, fledgling birds of pigeon size upwards.  Small carrier for rodents, hoglets, baby and fledgling birds smaller than a pigeon.] [We set up the large carrier in a very special way when transporting hedgehogs: see HERE.]

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- If you're picking up from a Member of Public, it helps to make the 'pick up' super smooth if you give the person a call to let them know you're on your way & to remind them what the pick up procedure is.  There's a short 'script' that all of our Drivers have given great feedback on, to help make it easy.  See HERE.

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• Arrive at the Vet Practice please and take the carrier - with a towel in it - into reception and say that you’re from [Rescue name] and there to pick up the [animal].  Pass the carrier to them and they'll pop the animal(s) into it and pass it back to you.

• [OR]... Arrive at [Finder’s name] residence and pass them the carrier with a towel in it, to pop the [animal] into. [Unless specifically agreed between the Driver & Rescue, with training given on capture & containment and/or other safety measures in place, UKWT Drivers never go into a Finder’s home or garden.]​  If the MOP / Vet Practice asks where they can get an update on the animal, tell them to contact the Rescue for updates please.​  [If the MOP wants to pass you a cash donation to pass onto the Rescue, that's fine.  Just pass the donation over when you drop off the animal.]

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- The minimum welfare requirements that UKWT Drivers MUST adhere to are...  Secure all carriers on a seat with a big towel/blanket over the top, so that it's dark inside the carrier, with a seatbelt.  Room temperature in car (unless told by the Vet or Rescue to set a different temperature, we will help you to always check first).  Please don’t play music or smoke when driving.  Do not try to feed/water or offer any kind of first aid unless you have been specifically trained by the Wildlife Rescue that you're driving for AND they have told you to, during that particular transport.  I ask that you let me know when you have picked up and dropped off so that I can know you’re safe.  When you get home, please hot wash any towels/blankets you have used and follow the instructions on the disinfectant bottles to disinfect the carrier.  [Anigene if you have transported a hedgehog / Safe 4 if you have transported any other creature.]

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- We have a template (created in collaboration with a Hedgehog Rescue) on how to especially keep hoglets warm & calm during MOST transports.  [This is a solid base of standards from which to work BUT - in hot weather especially - we will be taking it case by case, as some hoglets have fly strike and some are being rescued due to heat stroke, so extra warmth could be detrimental]...

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⁠- Fill a hot water bottle before leaving for the pick up - place it in the bottom of the carrier with a towel over the top to get the carrier warm before arrival.  Make sure the water bottle is wrapped twice so that a double layer of thin towelling between the hoglet and hot water bottle would soon be in place.  [The hot water bottle should only be warm to the touch, not hot.]

•⁠  ⁠Place the hoglet on top.

•⁠  ⁠Cover the hoglet with a towel (just one layer).

•⁠  ⁠Put the lid on the carrier and a big towel over the whole carrier (to make it dark inside) and keep temp in car at about 22 degrees.

•⁠  ⁠Secure the carrier - with the towel over the top - on the seat, with a seatbelt.

•⁠  ⁠Transport in silence.

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- We have a template on how to especially keep baby birds & baby mammals - in general - warm & calm during transport.  [This is a solid base of standards from which to work BUT - in hot weather especially - we will be taking it case by case, as some animals have fly strike and some are being rescued due to heat stroke, so extra warmth could be detrimental]...

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⁠- Fill a hot water bottle before leaving for the pick up - place it in the bottom of the carrier with a towel over the top to get the carrier warm before arrival.  Make sure the water bottle is wrapped twice so that a double layer of thin towelling between the animal and hot water bottle would soon be in place.  [The hot water bottle should only be warm to the touch, not hot.]

•⁠  ⁠Place the animal on top.

•⁠  ⁠If an animal OTHER than a baby bird, cover the animal with a towel (just one layer).

•⁠  ⁠Put the lid on the carrier and a big towel over the whole carrier (to make it dark inside) and keep temp in car at about 22 degrees.

•⁠  ⁠Secure the carrier - with the towel over the top - on the seat, with a seatbelt.

•⁠  ⁠Transport in silence.

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DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS

 

Taking photos of the casualty (even through the door/lid of the containers) is absolutely forbidden - if you are just transporting from A to B and the Wildlife Rescue hasn't specifically asked you for a photo - since even just being observed while unable to escape causes immense stress to wildlife and could be deemed life threatening when poorly/injured.  If it is suspected that you are taking photos of causalities during Transport Jobs you will be asked to step down as a Volunteer Driver.

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CLAIMING EXPENSES

 

Volunteer Drivers can be reimbursed for fuel costs.

 

You may be happy to waive the expenses reimbursement but please do not feel obliged to. 

 

Alternatively, it is perfectly legal for you to claim the expenses and then donate all or some of the money to the rescue who took the casualty. 

 

To claim expenses for your trip please complete this FORM.

 

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FAQs

 

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Who do I contact if there’s a problem?

 

You're fully supported during each transport.  Someone is always available on the phone - by call or message - should you want anything.  If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please phone us/message us (the phone number will be in the communications that you receive when we are getting you set up as a Driver etc.).

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The well being of yourself AND the wildlife you're helping is paramount.  When you set out to do a transport we expect that:

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1.⁠ ⁠You are in a fit state to drive, not being unfit through fatigue, alcohol, or drugs (legal or otherwise).

2.⁠ ⁠Your vehicle is in a roadworthy state and you are insured and MOT’d for the vehicle you are using.

3.⁠ ⁠You follow the rules of the roads that you are using, pay tolls, parking and clean air zone fees where appropriate (which will be reimbursed to you as discussed).  Any fines, speeding tickets, etc we will not be responsible for.

4.⁠ ⁠You will drive your vehicle at an appropriate speed for the road conditions, taking into account factors such as weather conditions and road surfaces. 

5.⁠ ⁠You will contact us if you feel you would be taking any risk with your personal safety and your property.

6.⁠ ⁠If, at any point during the transport, conditions change from those that were anticipated, you will contact us to discuss continuing with the journey.

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