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.

 

 

IF THERE'S A TRANSPORT JOB IN YOUR AREA

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- You will receive a call/text (or you may have been asked to join a Facebook or Whatsapp group, in which you will see calls 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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- Each Vet Practice & Wildlife Rescue will have a slightly different protocol so you will just follow instructions from them.  Then you hit the road, following all of their instructions.

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- The minimum welfare requirements that UKWT Drivers MUST adhere to are...  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.

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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?

 

If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please phone 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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