During each year, O.N.A.R.R. runs Share and Learn days. These are days when carers get together and share the information they have gained over the years on wildlife caring. Both experienced and inexperienced carers can learn from talking to others who care for native wildlife. Learning is a lifelong experience, and no carer can say that they are an 'expert' or that they know all there is to know about raising wildlife and rehabilitation.
O.N.A.R.R. also runs workshops for new carers on various species that they are liable to come across in their caring. For information on when we will be running Share and Learn days or workshops, please check under Courses and Events.

MENTORS

In O.N.A.R.R., we believe that every carer should have someone they can call on to talk to. In the case of people new to caring, we call them our mentors. An experienced carer is assigned to a new carer, so that there is someone who can offer advice and a safety net whilst you are learning. We allocate, if we can, a carer who lives within a reasonable distance of the new carer, but we also encourage new carers to call a person they feel comfortable with, even if they don't live close.
When a Register Head calls a carer to ask if they can take on a baby or an animal for rehabilitation, they also offer the phone numbers of carers close to them to give a helping hand if needed.
For experienced carers, we offer support through on line chats by email, or the occasional phone call. Even experienced carers come across situations they have not had before, and having another person to talk to can be of great benefit.
Not all caring is cute and cuddly:- we have our bad days too. Those are the days when we lose an animal that we have gone out to rescue, and struggled to raise. Or even the ones that come in seemingly healthy and then pass away for no reason that is apparent to us. At these times, it comforting to have someone to ring and tell, and to give you hand back out of the blues so that you can take on the next wee creature that needs your help.
Caring is not an exact science, and there are no guarantees, but it is definitely worthwhile, even taking the bad days into account. Getting to know other carers is a definite upside - new friends are always welcome!