With so many bats needing help in the summer, it is vital that anyone in need of emergency bat advice can get help outside of the Helplines usual hours of operation.

The National Bat Helpline Out Of Hours service is an emergency service which provides vital support, advice and information for people who encounter bats outside the normal working hours for the National Bat Helpline. Without the Out Of Hours Helpline, many bats would suffer and die. Your support is needed to maintain this vital lifeline.

Our recent Out of Hours Crowdfunding raised just over half of the total amount of funds needed to run this service . To ensure that as many bats as possible reach the safety of a volunteer bat carer during summer 2021, Bat Conservation Trust will continue to fundraise for this service which will operate on evenings, weekends and bank holidays between May and September.

The Out of Hours Helpline will start on 17th May 2021 and alongside it we are seeking volunteers to help us with bat care calls during in-office-hours. Together, these volunteers will make up our Volunteer Bat Care Helpline. While our goal has yet to be met, we will run the Volunteer Bat Care Helpline on a donate-what-you-can basis this summer.

There is a lot of misunderstanding, misinformation and fear of bats and the helpline also plays a crucial role in educating people about the wonder, beauty and value of bats. Many people who contact the out of hours service are filled with fear and dread but by the end of the call most have a greater understanding and appreciation of bats. This feedback from one of our callers is typical of many: At first I was scared as I didn't know what to do with it, then proud I had saved it.

In order to successfully run this Out of Hours Helpline in 2021, we need to recruit around 50 volunteers, train them on call handling and bat first aid, and support them throughout the summer as they talk with thousands of distressed callers. Last year, over 3000 calls were answered by volunteers, who helped the public rescue bats. Volunteers provided advice on situations ranging from orphaned baby bats, to bats uncovered during building works. They have also advised on bats found in museums, houses, and shops, and even a bat found in the sail of a boat in the middle of a lake! As a result of the service, thousands of people have been helped and in turn thousands of bats saved.

Our work helping to rescue bats is currently unfunded and relies on the generosity of the public to continue. By supporting the Out of Hours service, you will play a critical role in ensuring we can continue to help people and bats in 2021. Your donation will be used to recruit, train and support volunteers, follow up on the cases that need extra attention and put measures in place that will allow us to continue providing this service in years to come. Every donation makes a difference - will you save a bat by donating today?