SCARN, Sussex

£500 ANGEL GRANT AWARDED TO SOUTH COAST SUSSEX GULL ADVICE/RESOURCE NETWORK (SCARN), DECEMBER 2025

Thank you so much for this grant, which has come in the darkest year imaginable. Since the end of an impossible summer season, our group has faced awful challenges. In addition to endless rescues, we have been forced to go it alone and take on DIY roles, including first aid and rehab practices. Gulls have had to face unjust snobbery in the wake of yet more avian flu outbreaks. Many calls of help from over six vets in the area who have had nowhere to pass gulls onto have piled on the pressure. This has resulted in this voluntary work becoming full-time, my own house cramped with gulls needing space, huge energy bills, plus the people who have helped having their lives severely impacted. We've had illnesses, exhaustion and fatigue after having to ignore so many callouts, but also having to let birds go when they should have remained in captivity because of lack of space.

The volunteer sector is decimated, but, essentially, there are just too many of these birds needing help. We were left to fend for ourselves. For next year, we have had to implement firm boundaries on what we can and will do, plus who we help, in order to keep going and maintain mental health (something not at all regarded or valued in wildlife rescue). What is certain is the public will need to be a lot more helpful than just offloading casualties onto people who don't get paid. We've seen gulls dropped elsewhere in favour of other wildlife, so we will have to do the same. With more closures every day throughout the UK, whether gulls get any help at all in a couple of years remains to be seen. Going forward, saying 'No' will be more common. It's become too much to neglect a normal quality of life for a 7th year. This grant will pay off bills, volunteer costs, and those elsewhere who get literally nothing for helping gulls.

And as a thank you to The Sanctuary Angels, I want to give something back by signing up as a donor. I hope everyone else reading this does the same. Thank you so much for this.

Merry Xmas !! Justin King, Founder

Want to sign up as a donor today? www.thesanctuaryangels.com