Sompting Wildlife Rescue and Rehab is a small, family-run wildlife charity based in Sompting, West Sussex, operating since 2019. The organisation is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing injured, orphaned, and abandoned wildlife and specialises in caring for wildlife that requires longer-term rehabilitation, such as gulls with fractures, hedgehogs with leg injuries, and pigeons with cat bite wounds, raptors with illness and injury. They also offers advice and assistance to the public on wildlife rescue and care, and conducts educational programs in schools to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. 

The Belforte Foundation awarded a grant of £4370 for the purchase of specialised rescue equipment for volunteers called a “Reach and Rescue Kit”. During the summer months the kit is used to help, red listed species of gull, herring gulls in particular, to be put back onto roof tops. This in turn means they do not have to come into rescue, saving time and money. The grant also funded some soft release pens that are multi-species friendly. To date, these pens have helped over thirty animals and the reach and rescue kit has been used frequently. Additionally, a full volunteer training session was run, teaching how to safely use the new kits. 

Learn more about the charity here: www.somptingwildliferescue.co.uk