Community companion volunteer volunteer roles in alderley edge, cheshire east

Ever been told you that you're a good listener, or that your calm presence helps others feel at ease?

Marie Curie is looking for compassionate, everyday people to join our Companion Team within the surrounding areas of Huddersfield, Halifax or Bradford

What you’ll be part of:

• ​Visit a person weekly in their home and spend time with them and their family members
• Have a chat, a cuppa, or share some quiet time
• Listen to memories, share stories, or talk about everyday things
• Support carers or family members by giving them a short break

You’d be a great fit if you’re:

• Patient and good at listening
• Non-judgmental of others and friendly
• Emotionally steady in sensitive moments
• Able to commit to 3 hours p/week
• Comfortable using email and completing short visit reports

What we will provide you with:

• A deep sense of purpose and connection
• Ongoing support, training and guidance
• A welcoming volunteer community
• Recognition and appreciation for the time you give
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses each month

You must be ages 18 years or older to apply and be willing to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) applicaiton

Want to know more before applying? 

Whether you're curious about the role, have questions, or simply want to get a sense of what it's really like - feel free to reach out and connect with us. We're always happy to chat and give you an insider's view.

Have people ever said you're a great listener, or that your calm presence is comforting?

Marie Curie is looking for kind-hearted, everyday people to join our Companion Team as a befriender volunteer within their own local communities across Bournemouth, offering support to those living with a terminal diagnosis.

Make a meaningful difference and visit someone regularly in their home, have a chat, be a friendly face and offer support simply by being there.

What you’ll be doing

• Offer conversation and listen
• Help someone express what truly matters to them
• Pass along helpful information
• Offer kindness and reassurance to family members or carers before and after bereavement

Why you’d be a wonderful fit:

• Patient and a thoughtful listener
• Kind and courteous towards others
• Calm and grounded during sensitive moments
• Happy to give 3 hours a week to make a difference
• Confident using email and completing brief visit notes

What you can expect:

• Encouragement and support every step of the way
• Genuine appreciation for your time
• Travel and expenses reimbursed monthly
• Access to exclusive discounts on retail, travel, entertainment, and more
• Peer Support sessions

Apply now or capture more information by clicking on the blue "Redirect to recruiter" button

Ref: 6233

If you have space in your home and heart, for a guide dog mum who will be bringing the next generation of guide dogs in the world, then this could be the role for you! A role where you can care and nurture for a guide dog mum and plenty of little puppies when they arrive. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Providing a loving home for a guide dog mum who will be at least 12 months old, for around six years whilst they are in the breeding programme (with the option to re-home after this, once the guide dog mum retires at around 7 years-old.) 
• Giving a guide dog mum the care and support that our canine companions need, like feeding and grooming.
• Creating a safe environment for the guide dog mum when they are giving birth within your home and helping with the birth of future guide dogs, which usually happens once a year. (You don’t need any previous experience of breeding or having dogs – we have expert staff who will help you!) 
• Providing care and support for the newborn puppies for at least 6 weeks while they are still in the nest, including socialising them to the new sounds and first-time experiences in your home.

Can I care for a guide dog mum? 

If you want to care for a guide dog mum, here's what we ideally look for:

• A loving home with a secure garden.
• Access to a car, to support with any appointments needed for the guide dog mum.
• Live within an hour’s drive of the National Centre in Leamington Spa.

Guide dog mums can happily live with other dogs or children, however we wouldn’t place them with a male dog that has not been neutered. To determine whether you are suitable, we will conduct a home visit as part of the application process. 

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to have a lovable canine companion!
• The satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding experience of bringing the next generation of guide dogs in the world and caring for their mum.
• Our volunteers have access to our bespoke training techniques to implement with their guide dog mum a great bonus for any dog owners! 
• The opportunity to be part of the Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

Training and support

Our volunteers also receive lots of support from their volunteer managers to help them implement the training modules, as well as managing the birth of new-born puppies. If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to the litter or your volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, food costs or any specialist breeding equipment.  All you may need to buy is a bed and grooming equipment.

Minimum age of volunteer: 18.

Are you a dog lover with room in your home to look after a dog during evenings and weekends? This could be the perfect role for you!

As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll provide a loving temporary home to a dog in training, typically for a period of 12 to 20 weeks, as they begin their journey to become a guide dog. You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.

What you’ll be doing:

In this rewarding role, your support for a guide dog in training will include:

• Doing the school run for your dog in training! This will typically involve dropping them off and picking them up at an agreed time Monday to Friday at one of our regional centres or community teams, however, some sites may vary. There are some locations where we will be able to collect and return the training dog from your home. 
• Caring for your dog in your home such as feeding, grooming, free running and playing, following the advice of our expert staff.
• Helping your dog keep up with their training by reinforcing the techniques at home from our first-class training programme.
• Making sure your dog is not left alone for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. If you’re planning on going on holiday, let us know at your initial phone call so we can plan alternative cover for your future life changer.

Can I foster a dog?

If you’re hoping to foster a guide dog in training, here’s what we ideally look for:

• Being close to one of our regional centres or community teams so that your dog can get to their training. 
• The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in your home if you rent your home.
• A safe and secure area outside for the dog to go to the toilet.

However, we try to be flexible – for example, you’ll still be able to foster a dog if you live in London, even if you don’t have access to outside space. 

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to have a lovable canine companion!
• The satisfaction in knowing you’re supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding feeling of seeing your dog learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
• An insight into our bespoke world-class training programme so that your dog’s training stays consistent at home, which can also help you train your own dogs or advance in a future career in dog handling.
• The opportunity to be part of the Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

Training and support

You’ll attend a training workshop to understand the basics of our bespoke training techniques so you can confidently support your dog’s training at home. You’ll also receive ongoing guidance from your volunteer manager. If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your initial phone call along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, dog food costs and other materials needed for your dog’s training.

Minimum age for volunteer is 18.

We also have a respite fosterer role available in some areas, where a dog would stay with you full time before moving on to the next stage of its journey.

Please check out our website to see what roles are available where you live.

IAPWA (International Aid for the Protection & Welfare of Animals) is a UK-registered animal welfare charity dedicated to creating a better future for animals in need. 

Since our first project based in Borneo in 2009, we have helped over 50,000 animals across the globe. We provide a lifeline to dogs and cats every year in need of veterinary care and support via humane dog and cat population projects. We also provide aid to companion animals, working donkeys, and endangered wildlife.

As a small charity, who has big plans, we can’t do it without the support of volunteers and fundraisers.

That’s where you come in! - Join Our Team and Make a Difference!

Are you passionate about animal welfare and looking for a rewarding way to contribute? Become a key part of our monthly online auctions and help raise vital funds for our cause!

As a Donation Support Officer, you'll play a crucial role in collecting items for our auctions, which take place in our Facebook group each month.

What You'll Do:

• Engage your network: Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues to gather preloved items for auction. You’ll help give things a second life while raising funds for animals in need!

• Connect with your community: Tap into local Freecycle groups, social media, and even your neighborhood to find exciting items to auction.

• Reach out to businesses: Approach local businesses for new, unused donations. It could be products, services, or gift cards that can help boost the auction's success.

• Spread the word: Share the auctions within your network to encourage bidding and excitement around the cause.

Why Volunteer with Us?

• Make a real impact: Every item you help secure means more funds for our charity, which go toward animal care, rescue operations, and rehoming programs.

• Flexible commitment: You can volunteer from the comfort of your own home and set your own pace. We are looking for around 1-3hrs per week and while some tasks may be time sensitive the majority of the role will be flexible. 

• Support & Training: You’ll join a small friendly team and we will provide guidance to help you succeed in your role.

Are you a dog lover? Do you have the time to help raise a life-changing puppy? Would you like to make a difference to someone's life? If you've answered yes to these questions, then this role could be perfect for you! 

As a Puppy Raiser, you'll provide a 6-8 week-old puppy with the vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. You'll be looking after a puppy for 12-16 months and will guide him or her through training, socialisation, the introduction of new environments and experiences while providing a loving home.

There might be the odd chewed slipper along the way, but nothing beats the rewarding feeling of loving and raising a puppy who will go on to make an enormous difference to someone living with sight loss.

What you'll be doing:

• Engaging with our world-class training programme to prepare your puppy for the next stages of becoming a guide dog.
• Providing care and support for your puppy at home e.g., loving, grooming and feeding him or her. 
• Socialising your puppy and introducing him or her to a variety of environments to increase confidence – this can be as simple as taking your puppy with you to the shops, office or park as you go about your everyday life.
• Teaching your puppy to be comfortable alone - gradually building up from a few minutes to a maximum of four hours.
• Taking your puppy to monthly puppy classes, and interacting with other puppy raisers in your community whilst refreshing your training and sharing tips.
• Meeting with your volunteer manager as frequently as needed to discuss any changes or issues with your puppy.
• Completing short questionnaires about your puppy’s development.

You'll ideally have:

• A loving home with enough time to invest in raising a puppy and attending to their needs (e.g. toilet training). If you work from home or have hobbies, you'll need to be available to give the puppy regular attention alongside these.
• Someone at home who is physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg).
• Access to a car, so that you can get your puppy used to travelling.
• The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in the property if you rent your home. 
• A safe secure area outside for your puppy to go to the toilet.

What you'll get:

• The satisfaction of knowing you're supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding feeling of watching a mischievous puppy learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
• The opportunity to participate in our bespoke world-class training programme – this can help you train your own dogs or advance a future career in dog handling.
• The opportunity to have a loveable, canine companion, proven to reduce feelings of stress and improve fitness – you’ll be out walking rain or shine!
• The chance to be part of the inspirational Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people and interacting with a community of puppy raisers in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

s a volunteer you'll have access to our world-class training programme, to implement with your puppy in training, a great bonus for any dog owner! This is delivered in an interactive and engaging manner, using a mixture of different learning techniques virtually e.g., videos, documents and e-learning modules. Examples of the modules you'll have access to include:

• Food manners
• Greeting new visitors
• Being home alone
• Settling in new environments

You'll receive plenty of support from your volunteer manager who will help you work through these training modules with your puppy. We also offer puppy classes for puppy raisers in the local area to get together, share stories and provide refreshers on training techniques. 

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, food costs for the puppy and other materials needed for the puppy’s training. We will also pay an optional allowance of up to £100 a year to offset additional costs, and we have working agreements with certain bus and train operating companies, letting you take your puppy on short training journeys free of charge.

Minimum age of applicant: 18.

Location:Remote

Time commitment:Flexible

Duration:Ongoing (flexible)

Start date:                      October 2025

Application deadline:15 September 2025

1.Our vision

At the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM), we're driving a global transformation in dog and cat welfare. Our focus is on free-roaming animals - those often labelled as strays or street dogs and cats.

With our global reach, credibility, and expertise, we're not just envisioning change - we're making it happen. Our approach is rooted in science, collaborating with leading academics to ensure our work is always evidence-led.

Through policy work, advocacy, and knowledge exchange, we're transforming lives, one paw at a time. Our coalition unites some of the world's most respected animal welfare organisations, including:

• Humane World for Animals
• RSPCA
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association
• World Animal Protection
• Four Paws
• Dogs Trust
• International Cat Care
• Global Alliance for Rabies Control
• Battersea

Together, we're creating a world where every companion animal lives a life worth living. 

2.About the Positive Cities campaign

Positive Cities is a new global initiative from ICAM, launched at UN-Habitat’s World Urban Forum in November 2024, to support cities in taking practical action for vulnerable street dogs and cats. By signing the Positive Cities pledge, city leaders commit to a series of steps that improve animal welfare, make communities safer, and support the wellbeing of both animals and people.

The campaign is still in its early stages – and strong, thoughtful design will play a vital role in how it's understood, shared, and supported around the world.

3.The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Graphic Designer to help shape the look and feel of ICAM’s online presence and our global Positive Cities campaign. Your work will include creating logos, icons, and visuals for our websites, reports, and digital publications – with a special focus on designs that feature dogs and cats in ways that are creative, honest, and compelling.

You don’t need formal qualifications or agency experience, but you should have a good visual eye and feel confident in your graphic design skills. Whether you’re self-taught, a student, a hobbyist with a strong portfolio, or an early-career professional, we’d love to see what you can do. Proficiency in tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, or similar is important, along with a good eye for layout, colour, and composition. A basic understanding of things like file formats and resolution is helpful too.

This is a great chance to make a real impact, contribute to an international campaign, and take creative ownership of designs that will be seen by cities, NGOs, and animal advocates around the world.

4.Why ICAM

ICAM is a small but influential international coalition working to improve the lives of companion animals through collaboration, evidence-based policy, and practical support. This voluntary opportunity offers:

·A supportive and friendly environment with space to be creative.

·The chance to shape the look and feel of a campaign launched on the world stage.

·Flexibility – no fixed hours or expectations; you decide what time you can offer.

·Full reimbursement of any agreed expenses.

·Optional opportunities to explore other areas of ICAM’s work and access learning or training resources in areas such as advocacy, policy, communications, or animal welfare.

5.How to Apply 

Please send the following to Patrick Gerard at Patrick [at] icam-coalition [dot] org:

• A CV (maximum 2 pages) highlighting your experience with graphic design, including any relevant tools or projects.
• A short cover letter (maximum 1 page) telling us why this role interests you and what you’d bring to it.
• You're very welcome to include a few samples of your work or a portfolio – especially anything featuring icons, illustrations, or animals.

If you’re unsure whether your background or experience is the right fit, feel free to get in touch and ask – we’re happy to hear from anyone with the right skills and a passion for design.

6.Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity 

ICAM recognises that companion animal welfare is a global concern that affects people from all walks of life. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage, or civil partnership. Our strength lies in the diversity of our coalition and the varied perspectives they bring to our mission.

7.Location

This is a remote voluntary role, so you can be based anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection.