Wildlife and Birdcare Exclusive Membership

Wildlife and Birdcare Exclusive Membership  - Become a member for just £10 a year and you can benefit from loads of great things, Freebies and support our Social Enterprise

• Freebies - Wildlife Tote Bag when you join
• Membership Discounts – as a member you automatically get 10% off every purchase from everything off this website and www.wbctrading.co.uk
• Help & Advice – All the time we are asked questions about saving nature, community engagement, best habitat for nature, what time of the year do you add habitats etc.  As a member we provide exclusive and helpful advice. 
• Recommend a Friend - If you recommend  a friend  you will receive a FREE packet of RHS Wildflower seeds if your friend joins our membership too. 
• Community Discounts - If your street joins, or parish council members join we can offer bulk discounts for you and your neighbours. 
• What becoming a member supports - when you join you are supporting our Red Robin Nature Reserve and Therapeutic Skills and Learning Centre in Stoke-on-Trent.  Each £10 helps us to add more people into our centre, offer more people a job, help to find other jobs with other organisations and we support those who have autism, LD and additional needs who need a safe working place in which to excel. 

At Wildlife and Birdcare, a Social Enterprise, Business for Good.  My team spearheads initiatives to curb ecological decline, creating sanctuaries that serve as havens for biodiversity. With an Art, Design and Carpentry education I am skilled to design and build wildlife habitats that are as visually engaging as they are essential for wildlife preservation.

Leveraging skills in graphic design, we communicate the urgency of nature conservation, educating and inspiring action. My dedication extends to the SEND community, advocating for enhanced job opportunities.

The vision to build a fully supported comprehensive Nature Reserve and Rural Teaching Centre encapsulates this commitment, aiming to empower individuals with the skills necessary for a flourishing future in both work and the environment.

Today, I want to talk to you about an initiative that has the potential to change lives and foster a deeper connection with nature while tackling an urgent social issue. We are excited to share information about the Red Robin Rural Nature Reserve and SEND Skills and Learning Centre being developed in Staffordshire. This project aims to improve the lives of individuals with autism and other additional needs, providing them with better opportunities for paid employment, whilst also enhancing the environment around us.

At Wildlife and Birdcare, we are driven by a purpose: to address the significant gap in employment opportunities for people with autism and additional needs. Currently, only 22% of these individuals are in paid work, highlighting a distressing reality of exclusion and discrimination faced by those with differing abilities. Our vision is to create a welcoming space where skills can be developed, confidence can be built, and meaningful work can be attained. 

Picture this: a 12-acre rural nature reserve and care farm, beautifully integrated with nature and animals. Within this safe haven, we will be teaching therapeutic work skills, empowering individuals to gain not just qualifications, but also vital life and social skills. Our centre will serve as a beacon for the wider community, allowing everyone — from schools to social groups — to engage with our facilities in a supportive and inclusive environment. The planned visitors’ centre will act as a warm, inviting space for everyone, particularly for those who may feel isolated due to their neurodiversity.

Under the guidance of Sammy, a dedicated autistic advocate known for her tireless efforts as a 'Champion of Change', we are formulating a hands-on approach to workforce training. At our centre, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of sustainable skills. They include allotment management, horticulture, forestry, community gardening, animal care, conservation woodworking, ecology, biodiversity, cookery, arts and crafts, and design and print. Not only will these activities foster personal growth, but they will also connect individuals with the natural world, promoting mental health and well-being.

Connecting with nature offers profound benefits, helping individuals manage mental health challenges and learn how to be environmentally conscious. In an era of worrying species decline and ecological distress, our centre will not only serve the needs of individuals but also contribute to the pressing cause of nature conservation. By working together with nature, we aim to nurture both personal healing and environmental stewardship.

It's important to consider how critical it is for individuals with additional needs to have a safe place to learn new skills. Our centre will not only provide education but will facilitate a sense of community among like-minded individuals, fostering friendships and support networks. In doing so, we aim to combat issues of isolation, loneliness, and the stigma associated with differences in abilities. Our programmes will work towards reducing the alarming rates of mental health challenges that many face.

Our goals extend into the broader educational system. The Red Robin Centre will forge partnerships with local schools, colleges, and universities, collaboratively designing frameworks to measure positive outcomes as students transition from special educational needs (SEND) institutions into the workforce. We are already witnessing positive changes in participants from our pilot initiatives, having constructed and delivered over 25,000 habitats to communities and educational sites. However, our current situation — operating from an old, unsuitable building — limits our ability to expand these efforts.

By moving to a rural location, we will create a self-sustaining environment that facilitates growth—enabling us to offer more spaces, enhance communication and friendships, and ultimately increase employment opportunities. Our new facility will also provide jobs to twelve individuals, prioritising those who may struggle to find traditional employment.

Furthermore, our connection to nature goes hand-in-hand with education. It encourages the understanding of species development, paving the way for work opportunities in the environmental sector. This is not just about immediate jobs; it’s about creating pathways for sustained longevity in employment for those who might otherwise miss out.

Here’s where you come in. We need your support to help us open this vital teaching centre in Staffordshire. This is just the beginning of our vision: if we successfully establish this centre, we aim to replicate its model across other counties in the UK, offering similar opportunities to even more individuals. Everyone—regardless of ability or disability—deserves a fair chance to work and contribute to society.

The land we are set to acquire will transform into an inclusive wildlife haven and learning space, complete with a care farm, teaching rooms, and community facilities. The plan includes creating an environment where education meets nature, featuring wildlife ponds, orchards, raised beds, polytunnels, and various community workshops. It will be an enriching space not only for learning but also for relaxation and personal growth.

In conclusion, your backing is crucial to realising this vision of a brighter future for individuals with autism and additional needs. Together, we can help families, inspire minds, and close the employment gap while nurturing our planet. Join us in turning this dream into a reality! You joining our membership makes us one step closer to our 250,000 members needed.