Volunteering Opportunities
General Centre Volunteer (Location: CT3 4JD)
Do you enjoy cleaning and like being around animals?
We rely on our wonderful team of Centre Volunteers to help with all the routine tasks that help keep the centre running smoothly. Ok, it’s not always the most glamorous but getting these jobs done but it supports our small team to devote more time to caring for the animals and helping them find new homes more quickly.
You can become part of a great team and really help our cats and small furries to have a positive experience during their stay with us.
Along the way you will learn about the day to day realities of running a rehoming centre, alas its not all cuddling kittens (although there is a little bit of that too!)
We are looking for volunteers to help on any day(s) of the week. The role is flexible in terms of commitment but generally the core of the cleaning and animal care take place in the mornings from 9am onwards.
Key Activities
To clean, disinfect and maintain the animal accommodation and equipment
General cleaning around the centre, including laundry
Interacting with animals as selected and advised by the staff team
Once you have gained some experience there will also be opportunities to get involved with other aspects of the centre’s work such as helping out on reception, home-visiting and fundraising.
Experience/skills/knowledge required
Training will be provided, although some experience of owning or working with cats and/or rabbits would be useful.
Garden/Grounds Maintenance/ Handy Person (s)
Are you handy around the home or maybe green fingered in the garden? We are looking for volunteers to support the upkeep of the animal rehoming centre and grounds on a flexible basis. Duties may include re painting, mowing, small carpentry work, cleaning, basic repairs to the animal accommodation and equipment. Equipment is provided – all we need is willing hands. Hours to suit.
Community Support and Home Visitor Volunteers
Do you enjoy getting out in the community and meeting with new people? Are you a good communicator with excellent listening skills who can be observant but reserve judgement? This role needs access to a car and a valid driving license and appropriate insurance is required and copies must be provided. The role is very flexible with hours to suit but a willingness to make visits in the evenings and weekends is essential.
Key Activities
To assist with home visit checks, rehoming follow up visits to support new animal intake to the rehoming centre and provide advice under the guidance of the community support staff and manager.
To visit the homes of potential adopters and and obtain pertinent information using the standardised
questions and assessment.
Provide the staff and managers at the centre with feedback following the visit as to whether the home is
suitable.
Visit adopters 4-6 weeks after adoption to ensure the animal has settled and whether the new owner has
any concerns.
Feedback to the staff and managers any concerns arising from the visit.
Details from all home visits to be passed to administrative staff at the centre.
To visit homes or places in the community to provide advice, support or assessment for animals that have been identified as potentially needing to come into the centre. In some cases providing standardised advice or support can prevent animals from being handed over. In other cases valuable information can be obtained to help with the rehoming of an animal and allow us to customise the care provided in the centre.
Visits may be undertaken alone but will initially be with a member of staff.
To answer the telephone and greet visitors in a polite and welcoming manner.
Retail Assistant: Canterbury, Deal, Dover, Faversham, Herne Bay, Sittingbourne, Tankerton and Whitstable locations
Are you great at providing excellent customer service? We are looking for volunteers to join our retail teams.
Key Activities
Sorting through and displaying donated goods
Keeping the store clean, tidy and well merchandised
Working on the till and generally assisting the shop manager with the day to day running
What volunteering with the RSPCA can offer you:
Support to develop your retail and management skills through schemes such as NVQs.
Learning new skills.
Meeting new people.
Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
The chance to help the RSPCA make a difference to the lives of animals in need.
Ideally a minimum of 4 hours per week and an ongoing commitment is preferred.
We have spaces for volunteers all through the week and are also keen to find some volunteers to help at weekends, when the shops are very busy.
Experience / skills / knowledge / personal qualities required
Previous shop working experience would be ideal, but is not essential as necessary training will be provided. Volunteers should be comfortable with and enjoy meeting people and helping in a retail environment. Volunteers should be 18 or over.
Trustee
Do you have professional expertise you could use to help a good cause? Are you passionate about animal welfare? We are looking for Trustees to manage the affairs of the Canterbury and District Branch to promote and provide animal welfare within the branch area. As a trustee of a branch, you will have the chance to influence how we care for and prevent cruelty to animals.
The Branch runs a rehoming centre on the outskirts of Canterbury and where most meetings are held. However the Branch covers a wide area reaching from the East Kent coastline from Faversham down to Dover, Deal and Sittingbourne (excluding Thanet).
Key Activities
To be familiar with and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
To be familiar with the branch rules and follow them at all times.
To work with your fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
Ensure the branch meets all the minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS). Where they are not met, work with national RSPCA staff to meet the standard as soon as practicable.
In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch support specialist (BSS), write, adopt, monitor & review a branch development plan setting out the short and long term aims of your branch.
To actively participate in branch committee meetings and to attend the branch annual general meeting and regional conference.
To be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support regional initiatives.
To attend the trustee training course.
To actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers.
To welcome new trustees and volunteers to the branch.
It’s a great way to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare. You will have the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
Times & preferred duration of commitment
As a minimum, trustees would normally be expected to attend a monthly committee meeting lasting some 2 to 3 hours. However, the commitment may vary dependent on whether or not the trustee takes on additional duties such as the role of chairman, treasurer or secretary.
Trustees are elected for a 12 month term each year. For more information on becoming a Charity Trustee, and to ensure it’s the right decision for you, we recommend visiting: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved
Experience / skills / knowledge / personal qualities required
Most people aged 18 or over are eligible to become a trustee and you will need to become a member of the RSPCA. You will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills. You do not need to be an expert although commitment, common sense and the ability to be objective is vital.
Specific skills such as finance, fundraising, project management, business experience, awareness of employment and/or charity legislation can be useful, but not essential.
New RSPCA trustees are provided with a document “Guidance for Branch Trustees” and asked to attend a training course which provides information and guidance about a trustee’s role and responsibilities.
Ongoing support is also provided by regional and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch
