After 8 years of devoting full time hours (the only person to do so in our group) to helping so many casualties, it seemed not everyone in our group shared the same goals of saving lives in the correct manner. Every winter the recruiting of volunteers commences. Every summer these people drop out, leaving myself, one rescuer in hove, one running around on foot in brighton, and a handful of drivers to manage the impossible.

At the start of the year, I asked for help to get volunteers on facebook area groups, introduced artwork, policies, advice and instructions to finders on what they do upon finding casualties without the need for volunteers attendance and how they support their local centres. In short, i was left to do pretty much everything from going up ladders, climbing onto roofs, patrolling beaches for injured casualties, fundraising, housing casualties in every corner of my house and not getting support from the same people who offered to help. Instead, I was ignored, ghosted, ridiculed and undermined, while others dropped out. In short, about 5 or 6 people were left alone to do everything. There was certainly no team this year and asking people to help in many ways proved fruitless. There were no breaks, little chance to work (due to sickness brought about by endless bullying and appalling online behaviour for yet another year) so it has been isolating in every way. the culture of 'know it all' (the same every year) prevailed and destroyed all that I had set up. the aims to help these birds absolutely took third place. the beaches from Eastbourne to Brighton look shocking with casualties everywhere.

All through the Summer, i faced endless requests from lovely regulars who call on me/us year in year out to help but the demands from other members of the public who did not support were on another level. Consequently endless calls for help went unanswered and a record number of birds were left to perish after they did not recieve help. the message and phone calls went unanswered. another group experienced the same walk out issues and shocking behaviour. noone in wildlife rescue was capable of working together. the casualties on beaches and parks? left unrescued.

As a result of the above, I ran my car into the ground attending everything I could, then wrote it off in a car accident in August while attending a rescue that ended badly in newhaven. My insurance should, but did not, cover me which is being contested. I had to find second hand parts and foot the bill myself. This on top of too many casualties, ladder mishaps, forced to drive longer than normal distances to get birds absolutely anywhere in the south of the UK (few wanted them in my corner east sussex). A flood from a burst pipe left on due to exhaustion of doing pretty much everything which now leaves me facing a water bill of over £800 (£852) thankfully a fundraiser has just about covered this

Did anyone ask me how I was? One or two maybe and a few members were lovely. that spoke volumes. no one, bar one or two in wildlife rescue, asked after my well being .

I don't know what 2027 will bring but I'm done running a team. right now the costs of this year have been staggering. With a cat on end of life support who cannot be moved and my spare room I cannot rent out due to a well known disabled pigeon taking up residence here. luckily, to date, their home is saved :)

A lot has been achieved in this group, including saving one place from closure in 2021. (That seems to have been forgotton) Hundreds of lives have been saved/rescued, but paying the price has been too high. I am proud of what has been achieved over the years but not so proud of those who have interfeared or undermined this group this, (and previous) years.

i still have casualties at home and, I will continue as and when I can. I will do it alone.

Thank you