Introduction

Thank you for visiting our dedicated Volunteering website. Here you will find a list of current opportunities as well as a description of the work on offer in the different units.

Volunteering involves making a serious commitment as, once enrolled, we will be relying on you to turn up on a regular basis. We therefore ask all applicants to come in for an interview with our Admin Manager so that we can assess your suitability and ensure that you fully understand what is involved.

All new recruits are taken on for a three week trial period, after which you will have another interview with our Admin Manager to see how you are getting on. At this point, if it is decided that you will continue, you will be required to purchase a volunteer polo (£13) or sweat (£16) shirt, appropriate to the unit you work in.

Volunteering to work with animals can be hugely rewarding but it will have its distressing and upsetting times, too. You may find yourself alone with an animal that is to be put to sleep, has died or which has been the victime of an act of deliberate cruelty. You will need to be sure that you are mentally prepared for the highs and lows that this work will bring and that you can remain focussed on the task at hand

All volunteers taking one of the positions we have on offer will be expected to commit to assisting with the wider work of the hospital in terms of its fundraising and publicity. We will expect you to be available to help out on Open Days and at other events from time to time and to always endeavour to act as an ambassador for us in your normal daily life. If this is something that you cannot commit to, we will be unable to offer you a position.

Volunteering opportunities are only available to those aged 17 or over. We do have limited work experience placements for school and college students which are available to those aged from 14 upwards, details of which can be found in the Working With Us section of our main website.