Volunteer with us
Ealing Hedgehog Friends is run by volunteers

We are highly motivated people from all walks of life, who love animals and a bit of an adventure. Saving hedgehogs is an unusual spare time activity... and it creates many stories for us that we will never forget. Saving hedgehogs makes us feel engaged and fully alive. 

We take on tough jobs - for example, going out without notice on a Saturday evening to retrieve an injured hedgehog.
We also like to have a good laugh together at our meetings, socials, events and outreach programmes. 

We always work in a team, so even if you are not experienced yet, you never have to worry that you will be on your own.

We are here for hedgehogs -
we would love to welcome you!

Rescue volunteers

What you will do
  • Retrieve injured/sick hedgehogs in the field 
  • Provide first aid and an initial examination to decide where the hedgehog needs to go
  • Foster hedgehogs before/after they have seen a vet
What you will need
  • Some flexible time (calls for help come just-in-time when we have a hedgehog in need)
  • To foster - a separate, quiet room that can be heated and has daylight 
  • Equipment will be provided by EHF
Training 
  • 5 hour class room training, plus practical training offers whenever we have a hedgehog
  • Next training: Spring 2027

Drivers

What you will do
  • Drive hedgehogs from volunteer to volunteer, or to a vet or wildlife hospital
  • Sometimes transporting cages, equipment or food donations
What you will need 
  • Some flexible time, but these assignments can be a bit more planned ahead than rescue work
  • Your own car
  • Equipment. for example a cat carrier (which we can provide)
Training 
  • No training needed
  • You will get a Driver's Manual with information on how to transport a hedgehog

Habitat projects

What you will do
  • Support a variety of communication projects to make Ealing more hedgehog friendly (targeting professional gardeners, dog owners, people who walk in the parks)
  • Work with allotments, parks, churches, schools or local companies that would like to create hedgehog habitats
What you will need 
  • Good communication skills
  • Some interest in working with specific target groups, for example children or park rangers
Training 
  • No specific training, but attending either our rescue training or garden coaches training is recommended

Event volunteers

What you will do
  • Help out at our stalls at local events, for example the Ealing Animal Fair or some local festivals
  • Talk to people about hedgehog support, rescue work and volunteering
What you will need 
  • 2-3 hours to be on shift at the event
  • Some social and communication skills
  • Some muscles to help us build and take down our stall
Training 
  • No training required
  • You will receive our Manual for Event Volunteers, with hedgehog info and frequently asked questions 

Speakers

What you will do
  • Give informal talks to local community groups, or 
  • Deliver our PowerPoint presentation in a more formal speaker assignment 
What you will need 
  • Ability to give presentations
  • Ability to engage with the audience in a highly interactive way
  • Good hedgehog and rescue knowledge
Training
  • No specific training - presentations are usually given by experienced rescue volunteers
  • You can go along with a speaker and learn by doing

Officer work

What you will do
  • Help run and develop Ealing Hedgehog Friends
  • Depending on your interests and skills, help with fundraising, communication projects, social media and outreach projects
  • Work with stakeholders, vets and allied rescue teams
What you will need
  • Some free time - at times that suits you
  • Ability to join our officer meetings a few times a year
​Training
  • None - you bring your own skills
This is a volunteer project that are running together with Ealing Wildlife Group. A specially trained group of volunteers visit local gardens (on request), and help the garden owners make their place more hedgehog friendly.
Garden coaches give general information about hedgehog friendly gardening, and they point out risks and opportunities specific to the garden they visit. 

Ealing Hedgehog Friends runs the training for the garden coaches. The next training is in September 2026. For more info and training sign-up, contact us.

Ealing Wildlife Group manages the coaching engagements. If you like a visit from a garden coach, please contact EWG.  
Picture
Our first training for garden coaches in July 2026

Our volunteers in action: Rescue

Outreach and education

For hedgehog emergencies:
[email protected]
For everything else (volunteering, education, events):
[email protected]
Ealing Hedgehog Friends
Copyright 2026