Our Story
Based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, The Sussex Reptile Rescue Centre was founded in September 2024 by Benjamin Checkley, a 30-year-old reptile and charity enthusiast with a passion for animal welfare and helping reptiles in need.
Benjamin is autistic, and his strong interest in reptiles has developed over the years into extensive hands-on experience caring for a wide variety of species. Reptiles have become much more than an interest; they inspired the creation of an organisation dedicated to giving animals in need a second chance.
What started from a love of reptiles and a desire to make a difference has since developed into a growing registered charity with ambitions for the future.
How we got started
Benjamin established The Sussex Reptile Rescue Centre after recognising the need for specialist support for reptiles whose owners could no longer care for them, as well as animals requiring rehabilitation because of poor husbandry, illness, injury or neglect.
From the beginning, the aim has been simple:
To give reptiles a second chance while improving understanding of their welfare and care.
The Sussex Reptile Rescue Centre was established in September 2024 and became a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), charity number 1210189.
Starting From Home
Like many small charities, our story began from home.
The Sussex Reptile Rescue Centre currently operates from Benjamin’s parents’ home in Bognor Regis, where space has been adapted to enable the charity to care for reptiles while we continue developing the organisation.
Starting from a family home has allowed us to establish the rescue, build experience, develop our policies and procedures, support reptile owners and, most importantly, provide care for animals that need us.
But we know that if the rescue is going to achieve its full potential, we need somewhere to call our own.
Finding our forever home
We are therefore actively searching for new premises in West Sussex that can become a permanent home for The Sussex Reptile Rescue Centre.
Moving into dedicated premises would represent one of the biggest steps forward in our history.
Our ambition is to create a specialist reptile rescue and rehabilitation centre with appropriate facilities for animal care, quarantine and rehabilitation, alongside opportunities to develop our educational and community work.
A permanent home would give us the opportunity to build something designed specifically around the needs of the animals in our care and provide a sustainable foundation for the charity’s future.
We call this ambition our Forever Home.
Rescue & Rehabilitation
Every reptile that enters our care has its own story.
Some come to us because their owners’ circumstances have changed and they can no longer provide the care their animal needs.
Others require more substantial intervention because of illness, inappropriate husbandry, injury or neglect.
When an animal arrives, we assess its condition, behaviour, husbandry and immediate welfare requirements.
Where veterinary treatment is necessary, we work with veterinary professionals to ensure appropriate care is provided.
Some animals may be ready for adoption relatively quickly. Others require weeks or months of treatment, rehabilitation and monitoring.
We give each animal the time it needs.
Our Story is still being written
Every animal that comes into our care becomes part of our story.
So does every adopter who provides a new home, every volunteer who gives their time, every veterinary professional who supports our animals and every person who donates, fundraises or simply helps spread the word.
From Benjamin’s passion for reptiles to a growing registered charity looking for its permanent home, this is only the beginning.
Together, we’re building a better future for reptile welfare in Sussex and beyond.