Application Terms
Terms & Conditions of Application
Last updated: 6th October 2026
By submitting an application to become a Wild Kid, the applicant and their parent or legal guardian agree to the following terms and conditions. Please note: Wild Pets reserves the right to make reasonable changes to any aspect of the programme as it progresses, including its activities, timings, arrangements and requirements, where necessary for animal welfare, safeguarding, ecological, financial, operational or other practical reasons. We will inform participating families of any significant changes as soon as reasonably possible.
1. Eligibility
To apply, the child must:
- be aged 8–13 inclusive on the official programme launch date of 7 October 2026; and
- live in Devon, UK.
Applications must be made with the involvement and support of the child’s parent or legal guardian.
2. The application
The application asks the child to:
- provide a short video of up to 2 minutes explaining why they would make a great Wild Kid; and
- provide a written response of up to 500 words explaining why they want to help wildlife; and
- provide three examples of activities they have already carried out to help the environment
Applications should be completed with the knowledge and involvement of the child’s parent or legal guardian. AI must not be used.
All information provided in the application should be accurate and complete.
3. Selection
Wild Pets aims to select 20 Wild Kids, plus a waiting list of five additional applicants in case any selected families withdraw or are unable to continue.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and some applicants may be shortlisted or selected before the application deadline. Places may therefore be filled before the closing date.
Shortlisted applicants and their parent or legal guardian may be invited to a conversation with the Wild Pets team as part of the selection process.
If a child is offered a place, their parent or legal guardian will be sent a full Parent/Guardian Agreement to read and sign. The child's place will only be confirmed once the agreement has been signed. If the parent or guardian chooses not to sign, the place will be offered to another child on the waiting list.
The decision of the Wild Pets selection panel is final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding individual selection decisions.
Wild Pets may maintain a waiting list and offer places to other applicants if a selected family withdraws, is unable to continue, or does not complete the required arrangements.
4. Application closing date
Applications close on 1 December 2026.
As applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, all 20 places may be filled before this date. Families are therefore encouraged to apply early.
5. Parent/guardian responsibility
A parent or legal guardian must be actively involved throughout the programme.
The parent or legal guardian remains responsible for the child’s supervision, safety and wellbeing, and for ensuring that the mice receive appropriate care.
Wild Pets does not provide childcare and does not take parental responsibility for participating children.
The parent or legal guardian must:
- support the child throughout the programme;
- attend required training and programme activities where specified;
- ensure the mice are cared for appropriately;
- follow Wild Pets’ animal welfare, safeguarding and programme guidance; and
- communicate with Wild Pets on the child’s behalf where required.
6. Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the highest priority of the Wild Pets programme.
Participants and their parent or legal guardian must follow all care and welfare guidance provided by Wild Pets.
Mice must be:
- checked every day;
- provided with appropriate food and fresh water;
- kept in their designated accommodation;
- monitored for signs of illness, injury or unusual behaviour; and
- cared for in accordance with Wild Pets’ husbandry and welfare guidance.
Any illness, injury, escape, death or other welfare concern must be reported to Wild Pets immediately.
Wild Pets may remove mice from a family if it considers this necessary for their welfare or if required care arrangements are not being followed.
7. Mandatory training
A parent or legal guardian must attend, with their child, the mandatory Wild Pets training day on 20th March 2027, before mice are provided.
The training is an essential part of the programme and covers the care, welfare, breeding and management of the mice.
8. Parent/Guardian Agreement
If a child is offered a place on the Wild Pets programme, their parent or legal guardian will be sent a full Parent/Guardian Agreement to read and sign before the place is confirmed.
The agreement will set out the responsibilities of participating families and Wild Pets, including animal welfare, safeguarding, fundraising, photography and filming, holidays and absence, and the return of mice and equipment.
The agreement will be based on the information provided in these Terms & Conditions of Application and our FAQs for Parents.
Parents and guardians are under no obligation to sign the agreement. If they decide not to proceed, the place will be offered to another child on the waiting list.
9. Mice, transfer and release
The mice provided through the programme remain part of the Wild Pets conservation programme and are not family property.
Mice must not be:
- sold or given away;
- deliberately released;
- transferred to another person or household;
- cared for by someone else without prior agreement from Wild Pets;
- bred outside the Wild Pets programme; or
- kept as pets or retained after the programme.
Breeding must be carried out in accordance with Wild Pets’ specialist animal husbandry and welfare guidance.
The timing and location of the final release will be determined by Wild Pets and its conservation or ecological partners.
Release plans may change because of animal welfare, ecological, veterinary, legal, environmental or practical considerations. Wild Pets cannot guarantee a particular release date or location.
10. Fundraising
Each selected Wild Kid will take part in fundraising activities and aim to raise at least £100 towards the cost of their mice's food and equipment (approximately £250 per child).
Fundraising is an important part of the Wild Pets programme, giving children an opportunity to develop one of the most important skills needed in conservation work.
Each child will have a satellite Crowdfunder page, managed by their parent or legal guardian, linked to the main Wild Pets Crowdfunder.
The £100 is a target, not a requirement, and a child will not lose their place if they raise less.
The three children who raise the most money will win prizes.
11. Welfare concerns and removal from the programme
Wild Pets may remove mice from a family, or end a family’s participation in the programme, where this is necessary to protect animal welfare or the safety and wellbeing of the child or others.
This may include circumstances where:
- appropriate care is not being provided;
- welfare instructions are repeatedly not followed;
- there is a safeguarding concern;
- the child no longer has sufficient parental or guardian support;
- programme requirements are not being met; or
- continuing participation is no longer appropriate or safe.
Wild Pets will aim to work with families wherever possible, but animal welfare and safeguarding take priority.
12. Changes to the programme
Wild Pets may make reasonable changes to programme arrangements, including timings, husbandry requirements, collection arrangements, activities or release plans, where necessary because of animal welfare, veterinary, ecological, safeguarding, legal, environmental, financial or practical considerations.
Where a significant change affects participants, Wild Pets will communicate this as soon as reasonably possible.
13. Withdrawal
A family may withdraw from the programme at any time by contacting Wild Pets.
Families must not release, sell, give away or otherwise transfer the mice.
If a family withdraws, Wild Pets will arrange for the mice and programme equipment to be safely returned or collected.
Where possible, Wild Pets will work with families to make withdrawal arrangements that protect both animal welfare and the family’s circumstances.
14. Privacy
Information provided as part of an application will be handled in accordance with the Wild Pets Privacy Policy.
Information may be used to administer the application and selection process, communicate with applicants and their parents or guardians, and safely run the programme.
Further information about how personal information is collected, used, stored and shared is set out in the Privacy Policy.
15. Photography, filming and publicity
Photography, filming and publicity are an important part of the Wild Pets programme.
As a condition of participation, parents or legal guardians will be required to agree that their child may be photographed, filmed or otherwise recorded, and that this material may be used for Wild Pets' publicity, education, fundraising and communications.
This may include use on the Wild Pets website and social media, in newspapers, magazines, television and online media, and in documentaries or other programmes produced by third parties, with Wild Pets' agreement.
The Parent/Guardian Agreement provided to families who are offered a place will set out the terms for the ongoing use of photographs, videos and recordings, subject to applicable data protection law and individual rights.
Families who do not wish to agree to these media arrangements should not apply.
16. Inclusion
Wild Pets welcomes applications from children of all backgrounds, cultures and abilities.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss any accessibility or support needs with Wild Pets so that reasonable arrangements can be considered wherever possible.
17. Acceptance of these terms
By submitting an application, the applicant and their parent or legal guardian confirm that:
- the information provided in the application is accurate to the best of their knowledge;
- they understand that applying does not guarantee a place;
- they understand that the decision of the Wild Pets selection panel is final;
- the parent or legal guardian is willing and able to provide the required support throughout the programme;
- they understand that animal welfare is the highest priority;
- they agree to follow the programme requirements and guidance;
- they understand that photography, filming and publicity permission is a condition of participation; and
- If selected, they understand that their child's place will only be confirmed once they have read and signed the Parent/Guardian Agreement.