Team.
We have expanded our team of staff and volunteers over the years since we opened. Each and every person has become an asset.
Meet the team.
Trustees
Branch Chair
Amanda.
Amanda has over 30 years of retail experience and has worked across many sectors within the UK, Germany and Netherlands. In addition to Amanda’s wide retail experience she holds HR and project management qualifications. Furthermore, it strengthens her credibility as a seasoned and widely-experienced retailer. However Amanda’s real passion is animals! She has a Patterjack called Kinny and loves trying to wear him out on long walks as well as a rescue cat called George!
Treasurer
Vanessa.
Vanessa has always been passionate about animal welfare and has previously volunteered for several animal welfare organisations out in Africa. After joining the RSPCA National Society in 2017 and now works as a programme manager within Digital Transformation. Her speciality? Planning, governance and risk. Wanting a trustee role where she could use her skills and experience, but most importantly feel closely connected to the frontline work that the RSPCA does, Vanessa joined us at the Canterbury and District Branch.
Secretary
Gemma.
Gemma has been a trustee and secretary since December 2021 and has many years of administration experience in further and higher education. Currently, Gemma is a PA to a member of the senior management team at a university. At home, Gemma lives with her husband and two cats, Bear and Baloo, who were adopted from the centre in 2020. Essentially they rule the nest. Her interests include Formula 1, films, reading and crafts.
Education, Volunteering and Community Fundraising
Charlie.
Charlie works for the Department for Work and Pensions as a Support for Schools Adviser, covering the South of Kent to support schools with providing the tools to students to think about work. Whilst working in different roles for 25 years, this would be her most favourite as she gets to support young people. Of course, Charlie adopted two sisters from us a few years ago until they unfortunately passed. Now Charlie has taken on a former prosecution cat, Timmy, and hopes to encourage more people to adopt - not shop.
South East Regional Board Representative
Keith.
Originally from Southampton, Keith started work in the mid-1970s as an electrical installation engineer, moving on to teach in schools and further education colleges in South London. He is an avid beekeeper and the family are big lovers of guinea pigs – with 6 (or is it 7) current residents, and a Labrador - Buzz! When not working or playing with animals, he spends much of his spare time on the Solent or riding the various motorbikes he owns.
Trustee
Paul.
Paul has been a trustee since 2021 and took on the role as Chair in
December 2022, before stepping down due to his very busy work life. Ollie the Burmese was adopted by Paul and his partner, who is now best pals with Paul's original cat. Additionally, Paul heads up Learning and Development for Kent Fire and Rescue and shares his incredible HR knowledge and expertise with the branch. In his spare time, Paul is an avid baker, cyclist and cinema-goer.
Strategy and Data Insight
Becky.
Becky - peeping out from behind the bump head parrot fish - is the Director of Planning and BI at Canterbury Christ Church University. Whenever she isn’t working, she likes to travel and participate in her hobby of scuba diving and in turn sharing with us what we (hopefully!) wouldn’t see in the cattery. With a partner who has pet allergies, Becky gets her much needed cat fix from the centre and is always available to walk her neighbours dogs.
Animal Rehoming centre
Branch Manager
Natalie.
From cattery volunteer to Branch Manager. Natalie has over ten years of experience in the charity sector, specifically in fundraising and grant management, with an added interest in digital marketing and social media. Thus Natalie has essentially been with us since the doors opened and is committed equally to both animal welfare and yoga!
Finance Manager
Phil.
Phil has been the part-time Finance Manager for the Branch since Feb 2018 and is CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualified. He is deeply committed to helping animals in need and also volunteers as a committee member for another RSPCA branch. Our number magician lives with his wife Sue, and westie Molly. Undeniably, Phil has come to accept that he ranks a distant third in the household.
Animal Welfare Manager
Tara.
Tara has been working for the RSPCA for an incredible 18 years! Particularly Tara is passionate about empowering people to care for their animals and is a huge advocate for education as a route to prevent animal cruelty. When she's not at work she's tearing around Kent's parks and green spaces with her little boys and adopted spaniel, Bertie, who was dumped in Canterbury in January 2022.
Branch support assistant
Chantelle.
Chantelle joined us on a six month apprenticeship in 2021 and we couldn't let her leave! Consequently Chantelle supports the branch with all the day-to-day runnings including looking after the admin side of the welfare and neutering schemes, marketing and PR, fundraising, events, animal care and anything in between!
Rehoming coordinator
Lynne.
Lynne also started as a volunteer and now spends her time on the phones coordinating the adoptions and helping animals to find their purrfect home. When she's not doing this, she spends the rest of her time syringe feeding fussy kittens to help them grow big and strong.
Rehoming coordinator
Scarlett.
Scarlett joined the team in 2023 and works closely alongside Lynne to seek out homes for many animals in need. Being an animal lover, Scarlett also has her own rescue pets. To be exact two guinea pigs and a dog called Aero from Bosnia, who was found being kicked in the streets. Now he has a much better life with Scarlett and her partner!
Animal care assistant
Megan.
Megan also joined us in 2023. She is a great asset to the animal care team and is passionate about teaching students the same thing. Simultaneously, Megan supports us with our volunteering and work experience recruitment, hoping to make a difference to young people in Kent.
Animal care assistant
Liam.
Liam joined as a volunteer to help with managing the grounds and was quickly lured into the world of animal care. He is now part of our animal care team after learning the ropes of all things welfare related! Now you may never see him outside of the cattery.
Animal care assistant
Charlie.
Charlie originally joined the team in 2016 - 2019 as a volunteer. After successfully earning a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Charlie found himself back at the centre as a member of our casual team. This time learning the ropes of being an animal care assistant. Charlie has two dogs - Bertie and Monty - as well as a cat called Ollie that he adopted from us.
Animal care assistant
Jackie.
With a keen eye for providing animal enrichment, Jackie is another one of our animal care assistants that has joined us in recent years. You can often see her crafting away, utilising a cat's most precious item - boxes - and turning them into fun activities to keep their brains in motion.
Animal welfare supervisor
Lee.
Lee turned up for work experience, stayed to volunteer, joined the casual hours team, went full time and was then promoted to Supervisor! Lee is our cool head - calm under pressure and our 'go to' for all things tech!
Animal welfare officer
Lin.
Lin joined the team as a volunteer and has never looked back! Lin's two main passions at the rehoming centre are keeping everything spotlessly clean providing outreach to the community via her role as our Animal Welfare Officer! Bentley, Lin's cat, purses his role as her other boss.
Charity shops
Herne Bay shop manager
Caroline.
TBA
Whitstable shop manager
Simon.
TBA
Tankerton shop manager
Elaine.
TBA
Floating retail shift leader
Abbie.
TBA
Floating retail manager & ebay lead
Jo.
TBA
You can make a difference.
By donating you can help us provide for more vulnerable animals in our community that second chance in life. From low cost neutering to pet foodbanks for pet owners in need.
