Become a Trustee

We are actively seeking new Trustees in the run-up to a very exciting chapter in our development.  Founded in 2019, Craven Wildlife Rescue became a charity in 2024.  Now caring for nearly 500 animals each year, we are looking to appoint three additional Trustees who can help us achieve our medium- and longer-term ambitions.

“We achieve a huge amount in terms of animal care every single week,” says Penny Hunt, Co-founder.  “Our team of around 30 volunteers give their time generously to make sure that we return to the wild as many of our animals as possible.  Our patients are varied and beautiful - owls, hedgehogs, swans, otters, birds of prey, to name a few.  

Penny Hunt

“We’ve worked hard to develop our animal care facilities within the rescue hospital and expand the network of agencies, mentors and experts that we work with.  There is a pressing need for us to expand our facilities, whether at our current site or at a new site, and there is a huge opportunity for us to expand our outreach and education activities.  We are inviting new Trustees onto our Board to help us achieve our vision for the future.”

Increasingly recognised as one of the leading wildlife rescues in North Yorkshire, we are currently located in temporary accommodation in Horton in Ribblesdale. Whilst our current accommodation has provided a good centre of operations, we need more space, better facilities and a permanent home.  

We are looking for three Trustees with any of the following areas of expertise:

• Veterinary practice or animal care

• Events organisation and fundraising

• Business and legal

• Architecture

• Technology

The new appointments will join our Board, which currently comprises Co-founders Jane Carpenter and Penny Hunt, alongside Alexander Heyworth, Pat Porter and Jill Franklin.  In July, Patrick Grant, best-known for his role as a judge on hit BBC One show The Great British Sewing Bee, was appointed as Craven Wildlife Rescue’s first Patron. 

Jane Carpenter

Jane Carpenter, Co-founder, says: “As always, our Trustees remain committed to protecting and rehabilitating wildlife in need. We look forward to continuing this vital work with compassion, integrity, and a clear focus on the animals and habitats that depend on us.  We have a very exciting chapter ahead so, if you share our passion for wildlife and the kind of expertise we are looking for, we look forward to hearing from you.”

Interested applicants should send a covering letter and details of their experience to the Board of Trustees, by email - cravenwildliferescue@gmail.com.   The closing date is Friday 31 October 2025.