A New Year's Day email you'll want to open

2026 is going to be the biggest year yet for Protect the Wild.

I’ll get straight to it. 2026 is going to be the biggest year yet for Protect the Wild.

We will be:

• Pushing for a proper ban on hunting with hounds, and making sure supporters are ready to respond in force to the upcoming public consultation.

• Challenging the Guga Hunt, including organising a protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

• Releasing 20 hard-hitting animated films that expose and explain a wide range of issues affecting wildlife.

• Taking on the so-called “pest control” industry through the largest-ever research project into how public money is spent on wildlife killing.

• Fighting to completely end the Badger cull and push the govt to scrap the final licence and end the Badger blame game

• Launching a national campaign against bird netting, in partnership with Humane Wildlife Solutions.

• Reaching millions of people every month through viral social media content, alongside dozens of articles that keep the public informed about animal harm and wildlife persecution.

• Providing frontline activists with equipment and mental health support while they are out in the field.

• And finally, releasing the findings of the largest undercover investigation ever conducted into the British bird shooting industry, to kickstart a movement to end bird shooting once and for all.

And we will be doing all of this on a shoestring budget. To put it into perspective, other NGOs bring in millions of pounds every year, while our annual income does not even come close.

That only makes me prouder of what we achieve as an organisation. We do not use fancy software, we do not have expensive offices, and we do not hire endless layers of staff to fill roles.

I am sharing this to be clear about one thing. Every single pound we bring in is used as effectively as possible to create real change for animals. I am sat here writing this email on New Year’s Day because I want you to know just how crucial and valued your support truly is.

We have achieved an incredible amount over the last 12 months, and that is thanks to thousands of people chipping in a few pounds every month to keep us alive and kicking. I want to be completely honest with you. We are not in a perilous financial position. In fact, things are looking pretty healthy right now.

But I have never been one to sit back and feel content. This feels like the perfect moment for us to push on and grow as a movement.

Which brings me to the slightly awkward part of this email. I want to ask whether you would consider donating a few pounds a month. Not a lot, not even a fiver. Just £2 or £3 a month would make a real difference. You would be joining thousands of others making a small commitment that helps keep our work sustainable for the long term.

I know it is a bit of a long shot, but if everyone reading this email signed up for a couple of pounds a month, we could raise months’ worth of funding in a single day.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am genuinely excited to take on 2026 with you in my corner and make it another year of real victories for animals.

Onwards and upwards,

Rob