YOUR ROLE AS A VOLUNTEER DRIVER

 

You will be asked - BY THE WILDLIFE RESCUES & VET PRACTICES WHO HAVE YOU ON THEIR DRIVER'S LIST - to either collect a contained animal from a finder and bring it to them OR a Vet Practice will often ask you to pick up from them - after a casualty has received emergency triage - to transport further on to a Wildlife Rescue that will provide long term rehabilitation.  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.

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IF YOU ACCEPT A TRANSPORT 'JOB'

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- Each Vet Practice & Wildlife Rescue will have a 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, always check first please).  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 (after discussion with the Wildlife Rescues & Vets Practices that you drive for).

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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.

 

(NB: Due to the risks and complications of storing bank account information, we would prefer to only pay expenses via PayPal).

 

FAQs

 

Do I need to commit to a minimum availability or number of journeys?

 

ONLY if you are asking for the 2 Transport Containers (that you need to use for Transport Jobs) to be donated to you.  The only stipulation in that case will be...  If the Wildlife Rescue/Vet Practice (that you drive for) contacts you more than 5 times (in a row) to ask for your help with a Transport Job during the hours that you have stated on your form that you will be available and you do not answer or are unable to help - you will return the carriers to us (for us to donate to another Driver) at your own expense, within one week.

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If you are purchasing your own Transport Containers, just give us some idea of your availability and the Rescues/Practices that you're driving for will be in touch if and when they have a casualty in need of transport help in your area.  If you can’t help, that’s totally fine.

 

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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