Always on
This project successfully funded on 3rd June 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Raising funds for our school EEL TANK program
Wedmore, Somerset, United Kingdom
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Aim
Bringing conservation into the Classroom - Inspiring our young people, raising £2,500 + to bring 'Eels into classrooms' across Somerset
Why Eels Matter
Imagine a creature so mysterious it travels over 4,000 miles from the Sargasso Sea to our rivers, only to face a fight for survival. The European eel, once a thriving part of our waterways in somerset, is now critically endangered - down 90% since the 1970s due to many factors like pollution, barriers, habitat loss and over fishing.
But we can change that, one classroom at a time....
Last year, we showcased a 60 tank programme "Eels in the Classroom" which brought young eels (elvers) into schools, the children cared for them, learned about their epic lifecycle, and released them into local rivers.
It’s hands-on conservation that sparks wonder and builds a generation of river guardians.
Now, we want to bring this magic back in 2025 and we would like to invite you to help us!
Our Project
We’re raising £2,500 (or more if we can...) to launch "Eels in the Classroom 2025"
Here’s the plan:
- Tanks & Gear: Set up aquariums in classrooms with all the kit to keep elvers safe and happy - this is an easy one as we have a lot of the kit from last year!
- Eel Delivery: Source 25-50 young eels per school.
- Lessons & Fun: Deliver interactive sessions on eel lifecycles, river health, and conservation - think games, drawings, and big questions like “Can eels talk?” "Do eels cuddle" and "Do eels kiss!"
- River Release: End with a grand finale where the children have an opportunity release their eels into a local river, giving them a head start in the wild!
- This isn’t just about saving eels - it’s about inspiring our kids to care for nature.
Last year, we engaged over 2,000 pupils, and we’ve witnessed just how it transforms their view of rivers from “just water” to a living ecosystem worth protecting. Here we are (below) on TV, when Countryfile paid us a visit...!
Why Now?
Eels need us more than ever.
With populations still not what they were when most of us adults were children, every elver we nurture and release counts. In a world of screens, this project gets our children connected and outdoors, hands in the water, interacting with nature.
It’s a win for eels, a win for our children, and a win for our planet.
Where Your Money Goes
- £200 Extra equipment for the classrooms.
- £800 Sourcing and transporting elvers, including health checks.
- £1,500 + for educational materials and to fund our ree-ly lovely Educational Director Hannah (aka The Eel Lady) to transport the tanks and eels - run lessons, workshops and organise release events.
Every penny helps us scale up and reach more children - the more we raise the more impact we can make.
Rewards:
£10 – Eel Friend A shoutout on our website to show our thanks!
£25 – Eel Guardian All of the above, plus a digital “Eel Hero” certificate
£50 – Eel Champion All of the above, plus an invite to join an eel release day.
£100 – Eel Rescuer All of the above, plus a 'It's time to talk eels' mug.
£250 – Eel Legend All of the above, plus you will be sponsoring a tank with your family/business/chosen name.
The Team:
SERP - Enacting change from the bottom-up, we are committed to educating people of all ages on particularly local issues facing the European eel. Through this 'Eels in the Classroom' initiative, in which elvers are cared for and released upstream by partner schools, we have pushed the boundaries in what we can deliver.
Our popular rope-making workshops have offered multi-talented volunteers training in traditional skills used to improve the fate of migratory fish. A focus on Somerset's waterways ensures our interventions remain resource-light, measurable, and effective.
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Call to Action:
Be part of something slimy, spectacular, and life-changing!
Back SERP today to help save eels and spark a love for nature in kids across Somerset.
Share this with friends, family, or anyone who’d cheer for an eel.
Together, we can make waves (and ripples) for eel conservation.
Let’s do it - jump in - lets work together!
Thank you from SERP
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made