A north-east wildlife charity has revealed it is facing a £25,000 funding shortfall due to the cost of living crisis.
New Arc, near Ellon, is struggling due to the surge in electricity prices on top of the increasing costs of food for the animals.
As well as that, owners Keith and Pauline Marley have had to build a bio-secure avian area due to bird flu.
The couple – who are handing over to a new management team next month – are now pleading for help to plug the funding blackhole.
Tough times for everyone
Mr Marley said: ” It has been tough times for everybody. We are powered by electricity for the incubators and the hospital, so there is no choice.
“Charges for electricity are particularly high and set to get higher. We have increasing costs but so has everyone.
“The last electricity bill was £600, but our next one – or so the projection says is to be £2,400. That’s not until next year.
“How do you find that amount? That is an extra £16,17,000 a year. It is a lot of money.
“It is a real challenge. It will have an impact on what we are able to do.”
“There is also a rise in the cost of fuel for vehicles. Feed and food cost for animals has also risen by a substantial amount.
“This year with the avian influenza, we can only receive wild birds if we have a bio-secure quarantine area.
“That of course is necessary work and it costs money to provide.”
The last electricity bill was £600, but our next one – or so the projection says is to be £2,400… How do you find that amount?”
New Arc is the largest wildlife rescue centre in the north of Scotland, and takes in huge numbers of orphaned or injured birds and mammals every year.
Mr Marley praised supporters for backing their charity shops in Ellon and Dyce, as well as the volunteers who keep them running – saying without them, things would be “even more difficult”.
Sustained by the goodness of people
Mr Marley said that while other charities may have millions of pounds worth of support, New Arc has until now been sustained by the goodness of the people who support them.
He said: “We have become a hugely respected charity and we are used by vets from all over the north and north-east, for us to help with wild animals.
“Due to the time of year, we are not as busy as we can be. At the moment we have some domestic animals that continue to live here.
“As well as those animals we have otters, deer, hedgehogs, birds, an owl, deer and such like all being looked after at the moment. All wild animals in need of help.
“Some of those that are with us have been here for a year or more – depending on what support they need.”
Asked if the shortfall was around £25,000 a year, Mr Marley said: “Yes, I have not added it up, but yes it will be around that. It is very hard to think about it.
“People can support us with cold hard cash, which is always good – or they can donate to us, via our website and there is also an Amazon Wishlist for New Arc.
“We need a lot of fish for otters and feed for deer.
“We know everyone is in this dire situation at the moment so we are extremely grateful for any support that people can give.”
Conversation