Our Life Saver - Lynn Krupa

In our first Volunteer interview, we meet Lynn Krupa, one of our Release Co-ordinators.

• Tell us a bit about yourself

  I'm Bradford born and bred, but have lived across the border in Barnoldswick, Lancashire for the past 32 years.  I worked in the care sector for about 40 years and, as I've never been academic or passed exams, my route into my career was via volunteering, taking children with special needs to do things like outdoor pursuits.  I then became a care worker, working in various children's care homes and latterly working as a care worker at Netherside Hall near Grassington whilst also working as a part-time teaching assistant at a beautiful little primary school in Arncliffe.  Then my husband and I had a complete change - we left our jobs and went to work on a Lake District campsite for six years.  My interests and hobbies are yoga (which I do every day), reading, crafting and walking my dog.

  
  

  

  Lynn with Belle

  
  

• How long have you been involved with the Rescue?

  I started in July 2024, just a few months after the Rescue had moved into its current premises.

  
  

• What made you decide to volunteer?

  We found an injured hedgehog and took it to the Rescue.  We couldn't have been better looked after - I was so impressed. Penny welcomed us, talked us through the whole process and was so incredibly kind and gentle with the hedgehog.  I was blown away by the care and attention, it was truly amazing.  I thought 'I'd love to be a part of that', so I asked about volunteering, and that was that.

  
  

• What do you get from being part of it?   

  I have a huge zest for learning.  I want to be hands on, to learn every day, and show that I can do things even though I don't have any formal qualifications.  With the Rescue, I am constantly finding out things and improving my skills.  It's been a brilliant boost for me.  Before I started, I'd been ill and the doctors told me it was some kind of auto-immune illness. For two years they tried to find out what was wrong and the whole thing knocked me for six.  I got lower and lower, I lacked confidence and needed a new purpose.  Once I started at the Rescue, I got my energy back and brought me back to life.  I was learning every day and it boosted me more than I can say.  I still feel that now.  

  
  

• What is your favourite Rescue story so far? 

  It's so difficult to decide.  Never in a million years did I think that I would get close to wild animals in the way I do now.  Hedgehogs, herons, owls are just a few of them.  I'm a Release Co-ordinator and that's wonderful - just seeing the animals getting well and going back into the wild, somewhere safe, with another chance at life, is so special.  I've been involved in 47 hedgehog releases so far, something I'm very proud of.

• Why is wildlife important to you?

  All creatures are important.  We need to live side by side with them.  Humans affect wildlife so much that we should give nature a helping hand by not gardening so intensively and checking before we cut the grass or strim. We are proud to help educate people, even if it's in the basics.  Education is very much what we are here for.  

  
  

• What tips would you like to share with our supporters?

  I'm 72 and even I didn't really appreciate before that, if you see a hedgehog out during the day, it is not a good thing!  Something is wrong if they are out in the light.  We need to shout loud and clear that they need help and we all need to take more care.  If anyone has a rescue nearby, whether it's ours or another, please support them - it's so very fulfilling and they need your help.