Ten weeks of lockdown
Our normal action-packed summer season allows us to raise the money we need to conserve Hebridean whales, dolphins and porpoises year round. With these activities suspended or cancelled due to Covid-19, our charity is at risk and we need your help to meet this shortfall.
It’s exactly 10 weeks to the day since we made the difficult decision to cancel the first of our research expeditions and face-to-face engagement activities. The start of June marked 10 weeks since the UK entered lockdown, and we’ve had to make increasingly difficult decisions about our operations, which has had wide reaching impacts affecting every aspect of our work.
Our busy Discovery Centre, which was due to open in March remains closed, our work with schools is postponed until further notice and our research expeditions are cancelled until at least 11th August. We are now expecting the longest gap in our vital monitoring work since our programme began in 2003.
At the start of April, we made the incredibility difficult decision to place our boat and community engagement staff on furlough. Staff capacity to run the charity more than halved overnight and team meetings suddenly felt very small.
The financial impact for our charity has been sudden and substantial. Without the income that our research expeditions and visitor centre generate our charity is at risk. It has become clear that we will be facing a long period with no public engagement or boat-based activities - the lion’s share of our work and a substantial proportion of our operating income.
We are incredibly grateful for your support during these difficult times.
The kindness and understanding of our volunteers, supporters and community has been amazing. Many volunteers who were booked on research expeditions have agreed to move bookings to a later date rather than request a refund at this difficult time.
The continued support for our work from donors, members, animal sponsors and corporate partners is really making a difference. We know that few people and organisations are unaffected financially so your donations and subscriptions are hugely appreciated by us all.
Our funders have also been sensitive to the challenges the third sector is facing and have provided flexibility for our projects that cannot be delivered at this time. We received some good news when we were awarded £17,500 from Argyll and Bute Council from the Small Business Support Fund to help protect our charity against the impact of Covid-19.
How are our plans shaping up for the next few months?
It is still unclear when we will be able to welcome people on board research expeditions, open our Centre or deliver our educational activities again. Based on the Isle of Mull and operating much of our work from a small charity sailing vessel, there are specific operational challenges and additional considerations that will determine when it will be safe to resume our activities.
We are committed to making decisions that protect our staff, volunteers and our vulnerable island community, and help prevent the spread of the virus.
As Scotland gradually comes out of lockdown, we will need to respond. We are considering alternative research protocols, adapting our Discovery Centre and outdoor learning programmes to incorporate social distancing, and investing in digital tools to deliver our training and educational work effectively and remotely. We are currently looking into options for emergency funding to help support this work.
There is also essential research and conservation policy work for which we are now lacking funding and capacity to deliver. At a time of global climate emergency and biodiversity loss across the UK and globally, HWDT’s mission has never been more critical.
As a small charity we will strive to do all we can to deliver our mission – can you help?
These are unprecedented circumstances and this is a challenging time for our charity. We are relying more than ever on the generosity of people donating to the Trust. With all our income generating activities on hold for now, the support from our donors is really making a difference.
We recognise that for many people this year is going to be very difficult. However, if you feel that you can support us at this time, we would urge you to please consider booking on a research expedition in advance for 2021, become a member, sponsor an animal or alternatively make a regular donation towards our conservation work.
Your support is vital to help us continue our work to safeguard Hebridean seas for whales, dolphins, porpoises and people. Thank you.