The Emergency Badger Rescue Fund
The Emergency Badger Rescue Fund (EBRF) is a grant fund that was established in 2022. It is funded by the £7,000 raised during the 2021 Big Give Christmas Challenge from pledgers and donators, which was topped up by Gift Aid on eligible donations. It was also supported specifically by two supporters through their further generous donations. The total of the fund is now £10,080.
The EBRF is available for affiliated full-member badger groups of Badger Trust. It covers especially large or unexpected vet bills caused by an emergency badger rescue, which they would struggle to easily cover from their own funds. In 2024 the fund was extended to include covering the cost of the group's contribution to the Rescue Centre for rescued Badger Cubs and their care.
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The overall aim is to provide additional funds specifically targeted for badger rescue which will help support groups deliver this in challenging times. Costs towards cub rescues can also be easily recovered which, in turn, supports the few rehab centres that deal with many cubs from various badger groups.
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Groups will then be able to continue to respond to calls with confidence and to focus on the work at hand - helping badgers on the ground in their areas.
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Provision for Cub Rescue and Care
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Badger Trust decided in 2024 to allow applications from this grant specifically for costs associated with cub rescue and rehabilitation. From January - June, affiliated badger groups (irrespective of funds in the bank) can apply for the grant to cover some costs relating to a cub rescue & rehabilitation. The cub rescue element of the grant is for a payment fixed at £400 per cub, to cover the costs of mandatory three bTB tests, vaccination and a donation towards the rehabilitation that cubs require.
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To apply badger groups must confirm that they are contributing towards the treatment and ongoing care of cubs at a Rescue Centre and that the £400 claim (per cub) from the Emergency Badger Rescue Fund will be donated to the rescue centre in question. You will need a confirmation from the Rescue Centre that confirms the Badger Group is contributing to the cub rehabilitation costs, this can be an email from the centre's registered email address, or a letter from the centre.
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Can my group apply?
The EBRF awards grants to current full member groups of the Badger Trust local group network who have previously advised that they undertake the rescue and facilitate the treatment, rehabilitation and/or return of injured or orphaned badgers (in accordance with the current Badger Rehabilitation Protocol). Please check you are eligible for a grant and that you fulfil the criteria before applying. Detailed information is listed below. Please get in touch at hello@badgertrust.org.uk if you have any questions.
Our priorities for funding
Badger Trust is a registered charity that promotes the conservation, welfare and protection of badgers, their setts and their habitats. It represents and supports local voluntary badger groups throughout England and Wales, provides expert advice on all badger issues and works closely with the RSPCA, the police and others to advance the protection of badgers.
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Badger Trust will award grants under the EBRF only to affiliated full member groups who are actively undertaking the rescue of badgers and facilitating treatment via a veterinary professional or Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
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The decision on whether or not to award a grant is made by the staff and board members of Badger Trust. All applications are subject to a review to ensure the criteria are met, and that all supporting documentation or information has been received.
Grant aims
The EBRF is designed to help alleviate some financial pressure for full member badger groups involved with the rescue of injured badgers, where pressure on group funds is significant at that time (e.g. the group is low on funds/not currently able to fundraise).
The ‘emergency’ part applies in two ways:
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it is emergency treatment for the badger to intervene for urgent and life-threatening welfare reasons;
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it is emergency funding for the group as the expenditure is significant against their current available funds and their funds/fundraising may not easily cover it in the short-term (6 months)
The fund also covers the cost to the badger group through the Provision for Cub Rescue (capped at £400 per rescued cub). Supporting groups and rescue Centres with this important work.
Your application - our Terms and Conditions
Please note that Badger Trust is not qualified in veterinary medicine and any information relating to the EBRF does not constitute veterinary advice.
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You must be an affiliated full member badger group to Badger Trust.
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You may apply for any amount up to £750 for each application, or £400 per rescued cub.
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The group follows best practice advice on health and safety and wider risk management when undertaking badger rescue.
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The group has committed to, and actively abides by, the Badger Rehabilitation Protocol
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The group has limited funds and the application is made on the basis of an emergency need to help the group continue to function in the short term (6 months) OR The group is applying for funds under the Provision for Cub Rescue.
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An application for funding is not guaranteed to be met and the fund is limited overall in the year, with a cap of £750 per application, or £400 per rescued cub.
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A maximum of three grants per calendar year will be awarded to each group. No further applications can be made within that calendar year once three grants are awarded.
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Badger Trust is under no obligation to ensure that every full group member who is involved in badger rescue work receives a grant each year.
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You must claim the grant money within the calendar year in which the funds are awarded. Funds will not be rolled over into a subsequent year.
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Applications for emergency veterinary treatment must include: full financial receipts, a report/recap from the vet or wildlife rehabilitation centre manager, and sight of the funding situation of the group (via a redacted bank statement )
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Applications for the Provision for Cub Rescue must include: a confirmation letter or email from the rehabilitation centre where the badger is being cared, which confirms the named badger group is contributing to cost of that cub
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Badger Groups can apply for the grant as needed, this is not subject to grant deadlines. However, applicants should allow one month for their grant to be considered. If successful, the grant will be paid as soon as possible, but applicants should allow one month for payment from when the grant is approved.
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Applicants must not fundraise for the same funds via other means, eg via crowdfunding. This can only be done where the funds from Badger Trust form part of the overall funds, eg £750 from the fund as part of £1,500 needed overall. Where this is the case this must be clearly stated in the fundraising, and Badger Trust named as providing funds from the EBRF.
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Badger Trust must be acknowledged and recognised for their support to the group and in wider public reporting (i.e. annual reports, social media).
Evaluation of the use of funds and proof of spend
A grant will only be awarded where the spend has been demonstrated through the provision of receipts and other qualifying paperwork. You must also subsequently complete and return the Grant Monitoring Form so that Badger Trust can assess the impact of the fund. This must be received within twelve months after being awarded funds, and subsequent year funding (subject to continuation of the EBRF) will require all previous year’s grants to have been updated on.
Grant recipients must acknowledge the receipt of funds from the EBRF when reporting to their supporters, in any annual report, and when talking generally about the work involved. In particular a ‘thank you’ to the fund, and acknowledgement to Badger Trust should be made on social media, and ideally a blog piece written and submitted. This helps showcase the Grant Fund so that other groups may be inspired to apply, and highlights the work of both your group and Badger Trust.
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Timing of applications
Badger Groups can apply for the grant as needed, this is not subject to grant deadlines. However, applicants should allow one month for their grant to be considered. If successful, the grant will be paid as soon as possible, but applicants should allow one month for payment from when the grant is approved.
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Applications made for the Provision of Cub Rescue and care should be made between 1 January and 30 June.​
Grant Decision
This decision may be:
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An approval for funding, in full or partial
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A conditional approval based on a request for further information
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A request for further information
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A request for a meeting, to discuss the application
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A request for more time to consider your application
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A decline, with an explanation why the application was not approved. This decision will be final. Substantially revised applications may be accepted, but must be submitted in the normal way.
Equal opportunities
Badger Trust aims to ensure that all applicants will be given equal consideration regardless of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin or level of ability, provided that the application meets our criteria and priorities. Organisations and projects that do not work to these same equal opportunity aims will not be funded.
Huge thank you to EBRF supporters
Badger Trust would like to thank the following organisations and individuals for their support as inaugural pledgers for the 2022 Emergency Badger Rescue Fund, enabling it to become a fully-funded grant from initial ambition, after the need was identified: Bowland Ecology, Cox & Co Creative, Lighten, Amanda Brookman, Anita Keene, Anne-Marie Hewitt, Barry Edwards, Ben Martin, Eleanor Bullimore, Helen Bovill, J J Farrell, Jemma Johns, Lorraine Kirby, Nicola Sainsbury, Peter Jackson, Richard Worn, Rosie & Andrew Wood, Tris Pearce.
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Further generous donation to the fund from 'Capitaine Blaireau'