Aim

Help us inspire and educate young people about climate action, reconnect them with nature and protect wildlife.

ABOUT BRENT LODGE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

For over 55 years, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital has been a trusted and respected provider of expert care and specialist knowledge for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. Many of the patients admitted to us arrive as a direct - or sometimes indirect - result of human impact. Whether through habitat loss, climate change, pollution or nest interference, the effects of human activity are often reflected in the casualties we treat. 

We support local veterinary practices, RSPCA inspectors, Wildlife Police Officers, and members of the public by treating, and rehabilitating wildlife casualties, with the aim of releasing healthy animals back into their natural habitats. 

Our work focuses on wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, education, and community engagement to restore the balance and encourage the protection of the natural world.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

Beyond direct casualty care, our Respect and Protect Education Outreach Programme helps inspire a deeper understanding and respect for British wildlife within the local community. 

Our outreach project delivers interactive educational workshops, community events, school visits, and practical wildlife conservation activities across West Sussex. Led by our Education & Outreach Coordinator and supported by trained volunteers, the project equips people of all ages with the knowledge and confidence to create wildlife-friendly spaces, improve biodiversity, and take positive action for nature.

Through hands-on activities such as building habitats, planting for pollinators, reducing waste and pollution, and learning how to safely help wildlife affected by extreme weather, participants gain practical skills they can use at home, in schools, and within their local communities.

The project helps communities prevent, prepare for, and adapt to the impacts of climate change by raising awareness of how changing weather patterns, habitat loss, drought, flooding, and heatwaves affect local wildlife. By encouraging simple but effective actions - such as creating resilient green spaces, providing food and water sources, reducing chemical use, and protecting natural habitats - we empower local people to make their neighbourhoods more climate-resilient. This not only benefits wildlife but also strengthens community engagement, improves local biodiversity, and inspires long-term environmental stewardship for future generations.

RECONNECTING WITH NATURE

Our project primary beneficiaries are children and young people aged 8–25 across our local communities, with a particular focus on schools, youth groups, and those who may have limited access to environmental education and outdoor learning opportunities. The programme also benefits teachers, families, and the wider community by encouraging shared learning and positive environmental action.

Participants will gain practical knowledge of climate change, biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and sustainable living through engaging workshops, community visits, and work experience placements. They will develop confidence, skills, and a stronger connection with nature, empowering them to make informed choices and inspire others.

We hope to see increased environmental awareness, positive behaviour change, greater community involvement in protecting local wildlife and habitats, and more young people equipped to become future environmental leaders, helping build resilient communities that can adapt to climate change.

SUPPORTING FUTURE CAREERS

Our Work Experience Training Programme also complements our outreach work by inspiring and equipping the next generation of conservation and environmental professionals. We provide hands-on experience in the rehabilitation of British wildlife for school and college students, Duke of Edinburgh Award participants, university students, and aspiring professionals pursuing careers in animal care, veterinary medicine, conservation, and environmental science.

Each year, we offer around 100 work experience placements, welcoming students from across West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and further afield, including Liverpool, Nottingham, the Royal Veterinary College in London, and even international students. Alongside practical wildlife care skills, participants develop a deeper understanding of the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline on native wildlife. 

Participants learn sustainable conservation practices, responsible environmental stewardship, and how individual and community actions can help wildlife adapt to a changing climate. Many go on to careers where they continue to champion biodiversity, conservation, and climate action, creating lasting benefits for both wildlife and the wider environment.

WHAT IS THE NEED FOR OUR WORK

The recently published State of Nature Report highlights that the UK remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Climate change is placing increasing pressure on wildlife, with hotter summers, milder winters, and more frequent extreme weather damaging habitats, disrupting food supplies, and altering natural behaviours. As a result, we are seeing more wildlife casualties and long-term population declines.

Hedgehogs are among the hardest hit. Numbers have fallen from around 30 million in the 1970s to fewer than 1 million today. Warmer winters can wake hedgehogs from hibernation too early, while hotter, drier summers reduce insect prey and make foraging difficult. This leaves many underweight and unable to survive hibernation without specialist care.

Birds are also increasingly affected. Species such as swifts and swallows rely on seasonal weather patterns for migration, but changing temperatures are disrupting these cycles and creating food shortages for chicks. Overall, wild bird populations in England have declined by around 19% since 1970, with more species now on the Red List of Conservation Concern.

Without Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital, many injured, sick and orphaned wild animals across our region would be left without specialist treatment, leading to unnecessary suffering and loss. Our work also provides vital wildlife monitoring, conservation, education, and community support, helping to protect local biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of British wildlife for the future.

HOW YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP

• £4,500 to fund a dedicated education coordinator to deliver workshops, host work experience and school visits

  £500 travel to attend visits further afield

  £750 to train work experience students 

  £250 safeguarding and insurance

There are three simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every donation we receive could be matched by Aviva making a meaningful difference to our work and wildlife in need. Your support is giving them a second chance at life in the wild.

£25 could support a student with work experience

£30 could provide travel to a community group

£40 could help fund an outdoor school workshop

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to raise much needed vital funds.

3. If you are local to West Sussex, book an outreach talk for your school or community group to see how you can make meaningful support to nature. Contact [email protected] for details.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 22nd October 2026 at 4:57pm