Wildlife charity fundraises to secure its future

An animal charity is heading into its 30th year with an appeal for donations to secure its long-term future.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) was founded in 1996 by Trevor Weeks MBE, who has dedicated 40 years to this labour of love after joining the Eastbourne Conservation Volunteers at the age of 13.

The Whitesmith facility, which receives over 30,000 calls and manages 6,500 cases each year, is now equipped to handle up to 450 animals at a time.

Mr Weeks, 53, said WRAS was "trying to get bigger and better all the time" but faced a relentless workload.

"The volume of animals we're now dealing with...it just makes you wonder, 'where is it going to stop?'," he said.

After more than a decade working with animals, it was an intervention from local vet Robin Hooper that ultimately led to Mr Weeks founding WRAS.

Mr Hooper had challenged Mr Weeks to address mounting veterinary bills, and in response, WRAS was born.

The founder admitted he was "quite surprised" to have spent four decades in wildlife care, but said it had proven "a really good focus" after losing his mum when just 21.

"It became my crutch, my support," Mr Weeks added.

The organisation now has nine full-time staff and over 200 volunteers and is dealing with more casualties than ever before.

To continue managing this demand, the charity needs to expand and upgrade its hospital facilities - work that requires funding, said Mr Weeks.

This has prompted WRAS to launch an anniversary appeal that's now open for donations.

Funds raised from an 80-mile (128km) trek to be undertaken by Mr Weeks will also go towards building a new facility.

The WRAS founder will walk from Bewl Water on the Kent border to Eastbourne seafront over 11 days, hoping to finish on 28 March.

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