Rosanna

(the newbie)

By day, Rosanna Sabatino is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director, running a 16-bed NHS ward and working with people experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties. It’s demanding work, but she describes the patient-facing side of her job as hugely rewarding.

Away from the hospital, animals have always been her other great passion. Rosanna originally dreamed of training as a vet. So when she applied to volunteer with the BHWT, her reasoning was simple. “I would love to be a part of improving even just one hen’s life, in whatever way I can help,” she says. “I think the British Hen Welfare Trust’s ethos is incredible and very much in line with my own passion for animal welfare.” Rosanna lives in Cambridgeshire, where we’re hoping to establish a new rehoming site, but her ambitions extend somewhat further afield. She recently bought a 300-year-old watermill in Normandy, and regularly travels over to France to roll her sleeves up and work on its renovation. “My crazy dream,” as she calls it, is eventually to turn the property and its land into an animal sanctuary – and perhaps one day make it her home. That dream has already led to another happy connection. Rosanna has now been introduced to our French sister charity, Champs Libres aux Poules. She hopes she might eventually be able to help hens on both sides of the Channel. Her parting words after her first conversation with our volunteering team? “It will be such a privilege to volunteer with you.” Rosanna, the privilege is ours.

“I JUST DID THE DRIVING”

Nigel Cowdery rehomed eight hens in 2019 and soon became a driver for our Milton Keynes team.

One recent assignment saw Nigel and fellow volunteer Emma Hempenstall deliver eight lucky hens to legendary actor Griff Rhys Jones. “It was a long day but could not have been better spent,” says Nigel. “I was surprised by Griff’s enthusiasm and his genuine and effusive offer of help.” As well as hobnobbing with stars of stage and screen, Nigel and the wider team helped rehome 900 hens that day alone, making several friends along the way. Nigel’s modest assessment of his achievements that fine summer’s day? “I just did the driving.”

Fancy being avolunteer?

From driving to helping on rehoming days or lending professional skills, there’s loads of ways to help. Whatever time or talents you can offer, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line!

bhwt.org.uk/volunteer