Help Otters this December with the UK Wild Otter Trust

At My Favourite Voucher Codes, we are delighted to welcome the UK Wild Otter Trust to our December charity poll! Throughout this month, four outstanding charities are vying for your support — and 20 % of our profits for December will be awarded to the charity that receives the most votes. We’re proud to highlight the vital work of the UK Wild Otter Trust and invite you to participate in this important initiative by casting your vote and helping this charity win a transformative donation. Find out all about this incredible charity below, and see if they’ve earned your vote!

Who are the UK Wild Otter Trust?

Founded in 2006 and officially registered as a charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 1167746) in 2016, the UK Wild Otter Trust is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphaned and injured Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). Based in North Devon — the land of Tarka the Otter — the Trust operates the largest specialist otter-rehabilitation centre in the UK, and has earned a strong reputation for its volunteer-led, hands-on approach to saving otters.

At its core, the Trust works not only to care for individual otters in need, but also to raise awareness of otter ecology, promote responsible wildlife watching, support habitat conservation and engage with anglers, fishery owners and the general public.

Mission, Aims & Approach

The UK Wild Otter Trust’s mission is to advance the welfare of otters in the UK, to support species conservation and to educate the public about otters and their habitats. Their aims include:

• Working towards otter welfare and species conservation, both individually and in collaboration with other groups.
   
• Working with angling bodies, fishery owners and other stakeholders to improve understanding of otter biology and ecology.
   
• Promoting responsible otter-watching and reducing disturbance to otters and their shelters.
   
• Raising awareness of otters via talks, walks, printed literature and outreach initiatives.
   

In terms of approach, one striking point is that none of the charity’s team members are paid staff — they are all volunteers. This means that funds raised go directly to the work of the charity rather than overheads.

Another distinctive feature is their rehabilitation method: they strive to replicate the natural upbringing of an otter cub (which in the wild stays with its mother for around 12-18 months) by providing dedicated enclosures, hospital and monitoring units, and allowing the otter to decide when it is ready to enter the wild. The Trust currently operates 19 outdoor enclosures, 5 indoor cub rooms, a cub hospital and 2 isolation units, giving capacity for up to about 44 animals.

They also impose a rigorous standard of release: their process includes release methods, support feeding at site, leaving the holt (den) familiar to the cubs to boost confidence, followed by post-monitoring for as long as the otter chooses to stay in the release area. Remarkably, they point to a 100% success rate so far using this methodology.

How to vote for the UK Wild Otter Trust

It’s easy to take part. Visit our homepage at My Favourite Voucher Codes and find our charity poll on the right hand side (or near the bottom of the page on mobile). Select the UK Wild Otter Trust as your chosen charity. Encourage friends, family and colleagues to do the same — as every vote counts! The poll runs for the entirety of December, and the results will determine which charity receives the 20% donation.

You might also want to share the poll on social media, use your networks to highlight the importance of supporting otter conservation, and make the case for why the UK Wild Otter Trust deserves your vote. The more people who know, the better the chances this fantastic charity has of winning.

A bit of context: where your support will go

Here are some concrete examples of how your support of the UK Wild Otter Trust might translate into impact:

• The rehabilitation of a single otter cub can cost thousands of pounds — covering veterinary care, specialist enclosures, food, monitoring and release support. The Trust estimates more than £3,500 per cub.
   
• Infrastructure improvements — for example, additional hospital rooms, isolation units, or improved enclosures to increase capacity. The Trust’s existing centre has 19 outdoor enclosures and multiple indoor rooms; increased capacity means more otters helped.
   
• Education and outreach materials and programmes: enabling the Trust to reach more schools, host more walks, produce more literature, and engage the public in otter conservation and responsible wildlife watching.
   
• Campaigns aimed at reducing otter fatalities on roads, supporting the installation of tunnels under roads or bridges, and working with fishery owners and anglers to reduce conflict and disturbance.
   

So, by voting, you’re directly contributing to wildlife rescue, conservation education and habitat protection — with a charity that is both highly specialised and volunteer-led, meaning donations go efficiently to where they matter.

Conclusion

In this season of giving, we at My Favourite Voucher Codes are proud to present the UK Wild Otter Trust as one of the charities in our December poll. Their tireless work rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing otters, combined with their commitment to education, conservation and outreach, make them a deserving contender. If you believe in giving wildlife a second chance, in supporting a UK charity with a strong track record and a clear mission, then please join us in voting for the UK Wild Otter Trust.

Let’s make a difference together — vote for the UK Wild Otter Trust, help them win the 20% donation and amplify their impact for otters across the UK. Thank you for your support — every vote counts, every donation matters.

Please Note: You can vote for the UK Wild Otter Trust from 1st December 2025 - 31st December 2025