Over 2 Years Of Giving WCB Monthly Grants...
Updated: Oct 2
Our WCB Grant Scheme launched in September 2024. It's definitely something we're going to continue with (and something that we are hoping to build on too). Here's what we've funded thus far...
SEPTEMBER 2024: [£100]
“I’m trying to provide myself a roof over the outside hutch area so it's less miserable cleaning out in the rain and wind. It's work in progress and discussions ongoing." - Fiona Quick - Urchins Hedgehog Care
OCTOBER 2024: [£100]
“Help with vets bills" - Joanne - Pepperfield Farm Hedgehog Rescue
NOVEMBER 2024: [£100]
“I am helping 2 people set up satellite sites so we can treat more hedgehogs. It would help purchase equipment.” - Yvonne Dunning - Stabbo and Sandiacre Spikey Rescue
DECEMBER 2024: [£100]
“A few weeks ago there was a loss of power to the sockets in the rescue. Incubators and heatmats went cold and one juvenile sadly passed away. A temporary cable has been setup by a retired electrician but in the New Year a new armoured cable will be installed. The gentleman will do the work for free but I need to buy the cable and other materials.” - Irene Thomson - Lowton Hedgehog Rescue
JANUARY 2025: [£100]
“We would be ever so grateful of a donation towards our current medication bill! We are just re ordering after the busy autumn juvenile season and we are low on everything (as I am sure we all are after the busy 2024). The donation will help us prepare for the onslaught that’s bound to be upon us all in no time at all… especially those ones that emerge from hibernation in a pickle! Thank you all.” - Rachel - Prickleback Urchin Hedgehog Rescue
FEBRUARY 2025: [£100]
“Being a small rescue and mainly self funded I would use the £100 to pay for vets bills and to buy in advance the formula and puppy mousse etc for hand rearing hoglets. I was very successful in my hand rearing last year, and would like to replicate that. I of course, need syringes, gloves, disinfectant etc. Thank you in advance.” - Julia - Hindley Hedgehog Help
MARCH 2025: [£100]
“To upgrade our microscope for sampling after learning so much on the course at Vale Wildlife Hospital.” - Julie - Croft Hogs Home
APRIL 2025: [£100]
“I’m still hoping to purchase a red light therapy gun which will help with accelerating wound healing and spine growth.” - Val Saunders - Hoggieworts Hedgehog Helpers
MAY 2025: [£100]
“A customised Gazebo for fundraising events showing who we are and how to get in touch.” - Julie, Croft Hogs Home
JUNE 2025: [£100]
“I need to replace my nebuliser as my current one has had so many temporary repairs that yesterday it was nearly unusable. I have had various brands in the past but need to get a quality and reliable one, especially as the number of hogs coming in with nose injuries and chest infections seems to have increased recently.” - Irene Thomson - Lowton Hedgehog Rescue
JULY 2025 [£50 was paid to Kim Hopkins - Prickle Patch Pudsey Hedgehog Rescue & £50 to Joanne - Pepperfield Farm Hedgehog Rescue & £20 to The Hedgehoggery]:
“The building of bespoke breeze block enclosures that will enable us to provide better enrichment opportunities for mothers and babies and large orphaned litters. We are experiencing high volumes of large litters. We are lucky enough to have the space to build bespoke runs for when they’re big enough to go outside which helps with re-wilding. This would mean we can bring them on without splitting litters up. It would also free up space in the ICU for new patients.” - Joanne - Pepperfield Farm Hedgehog Rescue
“Towards insulation for our new hogspital” - Kim Hopkins - Prickle Patch Pudsey Hedgehog Rescue
"Towards replacing puppy mousse & formula for hoglets." - Heather - The Hedgehoggery
AUGUST 2025 [£40 WAS PAID TO EACH OF THE 3 WINNERS]:
“To receive the training necessary to become qualified to microchip Hedgehogs prior to release. The data will be collated and aligned with a UK database currently under development so it can be easily shared and uploaded to contribute to the wider understanding of the behaviour of the UK’s Hedgehog population.” - Julie - Croft Hogs Home
“After seeing the infra red light appliances I know our rescue would benefit. We’ve had some truly horrendous strimmer wound victims this year and anything that would help these wounds heal faster would be beneficial. We would love to be able to use the grant to go towards purchasing one.” - Heather Todd - The Hedgehoggery
“Towards medication costs.” - POGs Rescue - Claire Foster
SEPTEMBER 2025: [£100]
“I've recently purchased purpose built 'pods' for the hedgehogs in my care. They were very expensive, but worth it. Great accommodation with plenty of space for them and super easy to clean for infection control purposes. This financial outlay has left the hedgehog bank account quite low, so any top up would be appreciated. Thank you for considering my application. Julia x” - Hindley Hedgehog Help
OCTOBER 2025: [£100]
“We are nearly finished in the hogspital shed. Our last few things are needed to complete it. We require blinds to stop the sun shining in as the windows are south facing and it shines directly on the cages. If there is anything left over then this will go towards feed for the hungry mouths we are feeding at present.” - Kim - Prickle Patch Pudsey Hedgehog Rescue
NOVEMBER 2025: [£50 to Laxey House Bird Rescue / £50 to Lowton Hedgehog Rescue / £20 to Urchins Hedgehog Care York / £20 to POGs / £20 to The Hedgehoggery]
“If we were successful with this grant we would use the money to fund a new dishwasher for the hospital cabin. Our dishwasher stopped working 2 days ago and a new one would save our volunteers getting frostbite handwashing the hundreds of food bowls we clean daily 🥶😆” - Tara - Laxey House Bird Rescue
“I'm applying for this grant to purchase a new microwave as mine has broken. I rely heavily on it throughout the day to heat up microwave heat mats for poorly animals being transported or animals that need extra heat in their hutch. I also use it to warm essential sub-cut fluids before administering them. It’s pretty handy for reheating my tea that often goes cold while I'm attending to my chores too!” - Lynda - Lowton Hedgehog Rescue
“Hello. I would love £100 to help fund a new window in my hedgehog acclimatising shed. Currently I have a stable door that is left open (the top partition) throughout the day to let light in but a window would mean that in winter the door could be kept shut. Thank you.” - Fiona - Urchins Hedgehog Care York
“Towards refurbishment work on our rescue shed.” - Claire - POGs
“Like many, we are at full capacity and need to keep the heating on in the hogspital all the time, something towards the heating costs would be an enormous help.” - Heather - The Hedgehoggery
DECEMBER 2025: [£100]
“Guttering. This project is ongoing or something else crops up. The hedgehog shed now needs guttering as the rain is splashing back and causing condensation at the bottom of the walls. Have been advised to fit guttering to stop the rain dripping from the roof to the floor or blowing back to the shed wall.” - Kim - Prickle Patch Pudsey Hedgehog Rescue
JANUARY 2026: [£100]
"The oil filled radiator we have has finally given up the ghost and is leaking. We’ve done some research and have ordered a replacement from Trust Heating in Garforth. Something towards the cost would be amazing." - Heather - The Hedgehoggery
FEBRUARY 2026: [£150]
We had 3 fab applications for the WCB Grant in February and they all got equal votes so the WCB awarded £50 to each of them: the brilliant Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital (Amy), Yvonne at Stabbo & Sandiacre Spikey Rescue & Julia at Hindley Hedgehog Help...
“Already spent £1,000 + in setting up a satellite site. Almost finished need the insulation covering and shelving units. The grant would really help xx” - Yvonne Dunning - Stabbo and Sandiacre Spikey Rescue
“We are currently redecorating some of our hospital units and in need of new lighting in the rooms. The current lighting is dull and so we would like to upgrade to better quality lighting. £100 would pay for a new light in 4 rooms: our reception, pigeon room, hedgehog ICU unit and admissions room. Thank you.” - Amy - Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital
“Lots of medical products and medications are increasing in price which does mean some serious shopping around to find the best deal (if possible). Prescription Charges are to be capped at £21 but it's not clear how long this will take to filter through to vet practices. As the busy season is about to start we need to ensure that we do have the meds we will need in our stock cupboard. The £100 grant from WCB will help us to do that.” - Irene, Lowton Hedgehog Rescue
MARCH 2026: [£100]
March's WCB Grant winners were Lowton Hedgehog Rescue & Stabbo & Sandiacre Spikey Rescue (£50 each) to go towards medication costs & the setting up of a satellite site...
“Excited to say that now we are nearing completion of 1 satellite site we are just starting to set up a 2nd so will need to raise money to help with the set up xxx” - Yvonne, Stabbo & Sandiacre Spikey Rescue
“Lots of medical products and medications are increasing in price which does mean some serious shopping around to find the best deal (if possible). Prescription Charges are to be capped at £21 but it's not clear how long this will take to filter through to vet practices. As the busy season is about to start we need to ensure that we do have the meds we will need in our stock cupboard. The £100 grant from WCB will help us to do that.” - Irene, Lowton Hedgehog Rescue
APRIL 2026: [£100]
"We would like to use the grant to buy a third Brinsea Brooder plate. I made the decision to switch from heat lamps (energy crisis) to brooder plates this year and bought 2. Not even a month in to baby season and they’re both in use running 24/7 for ducklings and so I feel a third may be needed sooner rather than later (god help us all). Thanks for considering my plea 💛" - Tara - Laxey House Bird Rescue
MAY 2026: [£100]
"We found our temperatures soaring inside the hogspital this week to 32 degrees and unable to cool it down. We would like to put the money towards the purchase of an air conditioning unit." - Kim - Prickle Patch Pudsey Hedgehog Rescue
JUNE 2026: [£100]
Julia Sixsmith - Hindley Hedgehog Help - “Supplies for hoglets please. I have 16 in residence, not a great number for some, however I'm a small rescue with limited funds. Thank you in advance 🌻”
JULY 2026: [£100]
Angela Paterson - Angies Hoggery - “I'm fund raising for another incubator, we have so many babies coming in who are very sick. I only have one. It's not enough. We have raised £120 and have another fund raiser organised in August. The money would go straight into the pot to buy one. I would be so grateful. X”
AUGUST 2026: [£100]
"Last week we had a fire on our property that was caused by a neighbour burning a nettle patch. It took out 2 fence panels and has left us with a large hole in the fence line (currently blocked up with aviary panels and lots of tie wraps. We would use the money towards getting the fence repaired." - Tara - Laxey House Bird Rescue
SEPTEMBER 2026: [£50]
This was a really unique one. One of the WCB Holders, Yvonne Dunning, put in an application stating... "I know it makes me sound like a creep, but we have received a fair amount of donations this month and not in desperate need. So if I won I would like to donate it to the wildlife transporters group as they have been working so hard and transported so many more animals this year. I use them a fair bit and they transported 2 🦔 just last week."
I wasn't expecting anyone to ever do what Yvonne did: as it was an official application for the WCB Grant I decided to put it forward with the others. One of the other applications was... "My nebuliser has just stopped working and our funds are really low as the last fund raiser was a wash out, we only raised £30 and then an hour after I got home I had to take a hog to the vets and the meds cost me the fund raiser money. We have 2 more fund raisers booked at different places in November. I am more than full of really poorly hogs and a 9 day old baby hog at the moment. I would buy a new nebuliser then I would donate the rest to the wildlife care badge transport. Thank you for reading x" - Angie's Hoggery
Yvonne's application won the most votes, with one more than Angie's application. With that in mind, I sent the following message to Angie, to allocate them the WCB Grant (they ended up taking £50 for the nebuliser): "Hi Angie, I wasn't expecting anyone to ever put in a WCB Grant application like Yvonne did. I was very touched. As it was an official application for the WCB Grant I decided to put it forward with the others. It got just 1 vote more than yours so I'd like us to split it: I'd like to send you the £100 to fund your nebuliser and send back whatever is left for me to use to run the wildlife transports. (I also thought this was fitting as it reflects your own application). Take whatever of the £100 you need. I don't mind how much/little comes back.”
