Giving back to the hens that have helped him so much

Paul Checkley first adopted hens from the BHWT after a Community Psychiatric Nurse caring for him told Paul about his own experience of adopting our hens.

Paul's story really touches us, so a massive thank you from all of us at Hen Central to you Paul for everything you’ve done for our hens!

“Sitting outside one day with my girls and relaxing, the thought came into my mind what would happen if the BHWT were unable to continue in the community due to lack of charitable donations. Our girls would be in danger of never realising a forever home.”

Paul decided to make a monthly direct debit to the charity as well as holding a fundraising event with the support of his partner Angela and the local community. Paul held an event at his local cricket club with various stalls including a raffle, tombola, bake sale, a ‘name the hen’ game and free-range egg sale. The event raised a fantastic £560.97 for the BHWT.

Paul said, “The girls have changed my life for the better, I still have my old friends 'the black dogs' visit me, but my girls are there for me and me for them, without the BHWT none of this would have been possible and I would still be consumed in a dark world.”

Paul, who has long struggled with poor mental health, says his hens give him ‘light in the darkness’: “They give me so much peace in my troubled mind and I would like to think they feel the same about me. Every day is different, they have their own personalities, funny, unpredictable, and loving. I still shed a tear of joy when I see them basking in the sunshine and dust bathing and most of all, free.