Greenwich Wildlife Network (GWN) was shortlisted in the Animal Award category, which recognises animals that improve lives or people working to protect and care for them.
Trustee Karine, along with her partner Steve, attended the ceremony at the BBC studios, joining other community heroes from across London.
Founder Rae Gellel said: “We were absolutely delighted to be named as finalists in the BBC Radio London Make a Difference Awards recently, in the Animal category. A huge thank you to Laura for nominating us.
“While we didn’t take home the trophy this time, we were thrilled just to be nominated and to share our story on BBC Radio London, where we spoke about the work our volunteers do every day to help wildlife in need.
“Our trustee Karine, along with her partner Steve represented GWN at the awards ceremony at the BBC studios, where they enjoyed a lovely evening celebrating many incredible causes and community heroes across London.
“It means the world to have our work recognised.”
The charity began in 2018 as a small community group in Greenwich and Bexley, created by residents who wanted to help injured or distressed wild animals.
Volunteers took on roles rescuing, transporting and rehabilitating wildlife before the organisation was granted charity status in January 2022.
It now has around 40 active volunteers responding daily to calls across Greenwich, Bexley and north Kent.
Yesterday, the group featured on BBC News London, where founder Rae Gellel appeared alongside fellow rescuers to highlight a rise in catapult attacks on animals in local parks and waterways.
The coverage explored how wildlife rescue teams are increasingly dealing with animals that have been seriously injured or killed, often for social media attention.
In a previous interview with the News Shopper, Rae warned that reports of such attacks had “absolutely exploded”, describing some local parks as hotspots for “relentless and sadistic” violence against wildlife.
She said it was now rare for the charity to get through a week without hearing of at least one animal being injured or killed by catapult.
The group regularly responds to distressing cases involving swans, foxes, pigeons and even domestic pets.
Volunteers often spend hours, and sometimes days, trying to capture injured animals using kayaks and nets, though not all are found in time.
Rae previously said that many of those involved are teenage boys, adding that the lack of meaningful police action has created “no effective deterrent”.
Greenwich Wildlife Network believes social media has helped fuel the violence, with some young people sharing videos of attacks for attention.
The group is supporting a parliamentary petition calling for new laws to restrict catapult sales and make it illegal to carry them in public, similar to existing knife regulations.
Whilst the charity did not win the top prize at the BBC Radio London Make a Difference Awards, they remain pleased with the recognition of years of hard work and a chance to shine a light on their ongoing fight to protect London’s wildlife.
The Animal Award went to Molly, a therapy dog who visits patients at Croydon University Hospital with her owner Babs, 85.
