How would you use a small grant to help tackle the war on wildlife?
That was the question we were asked recently: if the War on Wildlife Project were given a donation, how would you use it to help tackle the war on wildlife? What a question! So what would we do? Make a one-off lump sum donation, perhaps – many organisations are desperate for finance after lockdown after all. Or perhaps break up that money into smaller grants, spreading it across a number of smaller organisations or groups to help them fund their work?
It’s a fantastic problem to have!
We’ve obviously thought long and hard about what to do (as the donor would expect), and while there are numerous charities and sanctuaries we would always like to help, we think that setting up an ‘equipment fund’ to help smaller groups (many of which we know from experience are pretty much a handful of highly-committed individuals often having to fund their extraordinary work themselves) buy items to use in the field like video cameras, trail cams, night vision scopes, go-pros, recording equipment etc would be the most effective way to distribute the money we’ve been given. We feel that a ceiling of around £500/group (and /item) would be fair to everyone (so, sorry, that new Land Rover is not within our budget I’m afraid).
We think we can make the process as quick and painless as possible too. After all the monitoring season is upon us and there’s no time to waste! Hopefully nothing more than a phone call and a form to cover a few conditions (like a guarantee that the equipment won’t be used illegally, and will be used to help tackle the war on wildlife).
We also feel that for logistical reasons on this occasion we should make this offer available in the UK only. There may perhaps be another round of funding in the future, and with more experience of the processes involved we may be able to look further afield.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the War on Wildlife Project to be what we always hoped – part of a movement that is actually helping tackle the war on wildlife on the ground rather than just writing about it – and we want to make the most of it! So, additionally, we would like to offer (offer, not insist in any way) interviews with the groups we fund or this website as a platform to write about their work. Not to ‘thank us’ in any way, just as an option to promote what they’re doing to tackle the war on wildlife. And of course such follow-ups would help us see that what we’re putting in place is working and demonstrate that it is genuinely available to other groups/organisations that might be interested.
So, that’s our thinking. But of course if it’s not what you need, then perhaps we need to think again?
We would really like to know: would an offer to buy equipment be useful to you or your group? What items do you need? Do you have a better idea?
Please let us know in the comments below or on social media. If the response is positive, we would hope to be able to start rolling this out very quickly. Thanks.
That’s a kind offer
A small group of us ‘patrol’ the N York Moors & National Park,sunshine, rain, hail & snow.It’s proper bandit territory.Mafia!
We watch for all unlawful killing but our area of special interest is raptor killing & beagle hunting.A Quality video camera would make a big difference. Thank you!
Excellent idea. I belong to 3 active groups and the equipment is stretched between them…So much to do and so little time..7th year of badger culling in our area…Fox hunting starts in August.
Helping wildlife groups with equipment is a great idea. Most rely on donations and goodwill for what is often expensive equipment that can often be stolen. 👍👍
Thanks Neil, that’s what we think too!
Definitely help the sabs and monitors. Until the law is strengthened and/or the police/CPS/judges get their act together then the sabs and monitors are our only hope. They need every shred of evidence to get anywhere near a conviction so arming them with decent equipment is the best thing we can do. Keep up the good work guys, we will win in the end.
Thanks Mark. Yes, trying to obtain evidence is difficult and requires the sort of equipment we had in mind, but, of course, groups have many different requirements which is why we thought pitching the idea like this would be the most instructive. The feedback has been extremely helpful already!
That would be brilliant – small independent groups against the war on badgers have really struggled over the years as they’ve used a lot of their own money on fuel so have had to do a lot of fundraising for equipment, as have monitor groups who are independent. Most important equipment would be hand held video cameras, chest cameras as well as trail cameras (which are often stolen). When fighting for badgers, a garmin gps is really handy as you can record data using precise locations. If we got a grant, we’d get a tablet with o/s maps on it and a new hand held camera which can be used by both groups.
Hi Nikki. Thanks for commenting. And, yes, yours is exactly the sort of group we could probably help. For my own curiosity, would a Garmin-type GPS with o/s maps work in the field or is a tablet better? Thanks again.
Brilliant idea so many small groups out there who need equipment and have no way of raising money. 👍
Thanks Emily. It’s hard to know what to do or what’s needed sometimes, judging by the interest already this may be something that would help those small groups you’re clearly thinking of.
That is very good news. There are so many deserving groups but I have so much admiration for the Sabs and Monitors of illegal fox hunting.
They expose themselves to physical, mental and verbal abuse. They are the only people actively on the ground trying to uphold the law. So anything that would help to keep them safe, save foxes and facilitate prosecutions I would whole heartedly support.
Wild Justice do brilliant work in holding the government to account. So if there is enough to go round please donate to them.
Also Tom Langton’s crowdfunder could do with a boost.
It is because of the ideals and integrity of WOW that (I’m sure) WOW has received this donation. So thanks to you and your hard working organisation.
Hi Susan. Thanks for commenting (and the kind words). While we hugely respect both WJ and Tom, we really are looking to support (as you say) smaller sabs groups and monioirs that struggle to raise funds in other ways. Anything “that would help to keep them safe, save foxes and facilitate prosecutions we would whole heartedly support too.
Understood. The Sabs are incredible. I’d be extremely happy if they were to benefit.
Thanks. No need to reply.