It’s Volunteers’ Week! Meet Stuart — our Wildlife Hero!

By day, Stuart Boyle works at Buckingham Council as a Workforce Data & Service Desk Manager, producing HR data reports, submitting statutory returns, and providing data to Freedom of Information Requests as well as supporting the HR Service Desk.

But, by night — or at least, during the time he spends volunteering — he is a hero to our Buckinghamshire hedgehogs, rabbits, deer, foxes and more when he does volunteer work with Tiggywinkles World Leading Wildlife Hospital. In light of Volunteers Week (1st June — 7th June), we thought we’d catch up with Stu and ask a little bit more about what he does and thank him for the difference he makes for our wildlife.

Tell us a bit about the Volunteer Work you do with Tiggywinkles…

I have been a volunteer with Tiggywinkles now for 10 years. I help with the rescue of injured wild animals — anything from hedgehogs and swans to badgers and deer.

What is your favourite thing about the volunteer work you do?

The best thing about being a wildlife rescuer is the ability to help animals in need so they can get the medical attention they require before being released back into the wild. I sometimes see sad moments in this volunteering role, but most rescues have a happy ending. Last summer I was able to rescue and reunite 12 baby ducklings that fell down a manhole cover in the middle of a busy road back to their mother.

That is truly heartwarming. So, what made you choose to get involved in Volunteer Work?

I visited Tiggywinkles hospital one summer with my family and saw the amazing work they do. I knew that I could not afford to give money each month to support them but was able to offer my own time and become a volunteer.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting their career with Buckinghamshire Council, particularly someone for whom the opportunity to volunteer is important?

Buckinghamshire Council is a great place to work, and the option to use volunteer days is fantastic. Occasionally, there are working groups in the council who get together to do things for the community which I will get involved in. The council offer some fantastic benefits — the most rewarding to me is the new working styles as they offer me an excellent work-life balance.