become a volunteer!

The Riverside Animal Centre runs with the help of a large team of committed and enthusiastic volunteers. The work is not easy and it's not always pleasant but, if you are someone that can find satisfaction in knowing that you have played a part in helping our animals in their time of need, then perhaps this work is for you. We have volunteering opportunities within both our wildlife hospital and domestic animal unit and the duties are quite different. We also require enthusiastic fundraisers to run stalls at local events. Details can be found at the bottom of the page.

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL UNIT

As of 1st September 2011, the Wildlife Unit is being reduced in size and will be focussing on small mammals and birds.

We are not currently recruiting volunteers as the unit will close during October for 6 weeks in order to facilitate changes to our wards and enclosures.

Thereafter we will be instigating a new recruitment, training and shift regime, ready for 2012. If you are interested in our work with wildlife, please check back in 2012, when a new application form will be available to download. Thank you.

 

DOMESTIC ANIMAL UNIT

This side of our work is growing continually and from having one indoor area when the unit opened in the spring of 2010, we are now, in 2011, in the process of building exterior dog kennels and planning and fundraising for up to 10 outside cat pens, as well as a small block of 4 or 5 rabbit runs. In the 7 months of 2010 that the unit was open, we admitted over 150 pets in need of urgent help and we expect that figure to more than double in 2011.

Volunteers will be expected to work indoors or outside, with any of the pets we deal with and duties involve cleaning, feeding and dog walking as well as assisting with grooming and socialising. As with the wildlife unit, all volunteers must be over 17, physically fit and in good health and able to commit to one shift at the same time and day each week. In addition you must be available for duty at least 42 out of 52 weeks of the year and be looking to take this on as a long term commitment. We regret that we do not have opportunities available for seasonal work nor for those unable to work during school holidays.

Volunteer shifts are available every day between Monday and Sunday, and all bank holidays except Christmas Day and Boxing Day are worked as normal. Shift times in the domestic unit differ from those in the wildlife unit insofar as there are only two per day, times for which are as follows are as follows:

 

Morning Shift	9.30 - 13.30
Afternoon Shift	15.30 - 18.30
*These times may be shortened in our quieter, winter months but .during the spring and summer you will need to be available for the whole duration and possibly longer

 

Volunteers will be trained in handling and hygiene procedures and will be expected to follow all instructions to the letter. Teamwork is essential and successful applicants will be expected to help with events such as public open days and re-homing days on top of their normal duties.

To apply, please download and print off a domestic animal unit volunteer application form here. Fill in all sections, front and back and return it to the address shown. If you are able to offer a second choice of shift, this would be helpful in the event that your preferred shift is full. Once we have received your form, a member of our management team will contact you to arrange a brief interview and a tour of the facility. Please note this form should not be used for work experience applications, details of which are to be found in our dedicated work experience section.

 

FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEERS

We also need volunteers to help with fundraising, by manning stalls at shows and fetes, helping us on our open days and being responsible for distributing leaflets and collection pots to various locations. You will need to have your own car, be willing to undertake a short training session in which you will learn about our work and how we engage with the public and be able to offer at least 4 weekends a year plus one weekday per month. To apply for a fundraising volunteer interview, please call our centre manager or deputy manager on 020 8647 6230 during normal working hours, Monday-Friday.