Help at home volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in Belfast

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18 to apply. 

Volunteering in the shopCandidates must be over 16 to apply. Candidates must be over 16 to apply. 

Our Belfast Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).  

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18 to apply. 

Open your home for a night. Change a young person's future.

Every year, young people in our community face the frightening reality of having nowhere safe to stay. By becoming a Volunteer Nightstop Host, you can provide a warm welcome, a safe place to sleep, and the breathing space a young person needs while longer-term support is put in place.

About Us

Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Nightstop and Mediation works with young people aged 16–25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to build an independent and positive future.

Our services include:

• Safe, emergency accommodation through our Nightstop community hosting scheme.
• Family and school mediation to help prevent relationship breakdown.
• Homelessness prevention through education, life skills workshops and crisis support.

About Nightstop

Nightstop provides emergency accommodation in the homes of trained and approved volunteer hosts. Rather than spending the night on the streets or in unsafe situations, young people are offered a temporary, safe place to stay while our team works to find appropriate longer-term accommodation and support.

As a Volunteer Nightstop Host, you'll never be working alone. Our experienced team provides ongoing guidance and support throughout every placement.

What You'll Do

As a Nightstop Host, you'll:

• Provide a clean, safe and private bedroom for a young person needing emergency overnight accommodation.
• Offer an evening meal, breakfast and a packed lunch.
• Give access to bathroom facilities and laundry if needed.
• Stay in regular contact with the Nightstop team before, during and after placements.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while providing a welcoming environment.

Placements are short-term and arranged around your availability.

Who We're Looking For

You don't need previous experience—what matters most is compassion, reliability and a willingness to help.

We're looking for people who:

• Want to support young people experiencing homelessness.
• Can offer a non-judgemental and respectful approach.
• Have a spare bedroom available at short notice.
• Are willing to complete training and work alongside our experienced team.
• Have an interest in making a real difference within their local community.

Training and Support

We'll make sure you feel confident before welcoming your first guest.

You'll receive:

• Comprehensive induction and ongoing training.
• Daily check-in calls throughout each hosting placement.
• Access to a 24-hour emergency on-call service.
• Regular supervision and support meetings.
• Opportunities to attend additional training delivered by the organisation.

Why Volunteer With Us?

By becoming a Nightstop Host, you'll:

• Help prevent youth homelessness in your local community.
• Provide safety and hope at a critical moment in a young person's life.
• Develop valuable skills through high-quality training and support.
• Meet like-minded volunteers through appreciation and networking events.
• Receive reimbursement for all agreed out-of-pocket expenses.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive service and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and communities. We believe our volunteers should reflect the diversity of the people we support.

Recruitment Process

To ensure the safety of everyone involved, successful applicants will complete:

• An application form.
• An informal interview.
• Enhanced DBS and reference checks.
• Induction training.
• A home visit and health and safety assessment.

If you have a spare room and a desire to make a lasting difference, we'd love to hear from you. One night of kindness can be the first step towards a brighter future for a young person experiencing homelessness.

Mulberry Cancer Support, is looking for new volunteers with flexible availability to help us set up and run our stall at a variety of fun community fundraising & enagement events, mainly in West London - Hounslow, Richmond & Ealing areas - and occasionally at our Centre in Isleworth. Come and sell rafle tickets, inspire donations, hold a collection bucket, give out leaflets and engage with the public at our own events and at fetes, fairs and stadium days.

Volunteers must be age 18+. Most events take place March - July and October - December.

Fundraising Events Organiser Volunteer

Would you like to be part of a dedicated and friendly team of volunteers and make a real difference to the lives of cats and kittens in our care?Do you enjoy planning and organising for events?  Maybe you have a particular skill that you would like to put to use?
 
Then this could be the role for you! 
 
Our Fundraising Events Team are at the heart of what we do, raising essential funds for the cats.

Our Fundraising Events Organisersshare ideas, tasks and inspiration, planning and delivering local events, with the support of the Fundraising events helpers, such as Open Days (usually 2 per year) at the centre andour annual Christmas Bazaar.

Time Expectation:  This role can be varied and time commitment can be flexible. 

Without volunteers, Cats Protection Berkshire Cat Centre simply wouldn't exist. Our amazing, friendly volunteers are a diverse group with a shared love of cats who fit volunteering around their home lives and personal commitments.

We're often looking to welcome new volunteers to join our brilliant team. As well as meeting great people and making an incredible difference to the cats of Berkshire.

Please note:  Although we do welcome everyone, unfortunately our centre is not set up to accommodate young volunteers under the age of 18, including those on the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

Full training and support will be given for all roles.  We look forward to hearing from you!

National Helpline Volunteer Role

Join our team of dedicated helpline volunteers and help change the lives of bereaved people. 

Volunteers have always been, and remain at the very heart of Cruse, supporting thousands of bereaved people every year and playing an incredible role enriching so many aspects of our organisation.  The National Helpline is a key service within Cruse, enabling us to support bereaved people with compassion and empathy. 

As a Helpline Bereavement Volunteer, you will join a thriving volunteer community to provide emotional support, information, internal and external signposting over the phone to bereaved people. You provide this through a person-centred, empathetic and non-judgemental approach to supporting all our callers, in accordance with Cruse Bereavement Supports policies and procedures. This role is home-based only, so you must have a quiet and private space to work in, access to a computer (Tablets or iPad’s will not be suitable) and a stable Wi-Fi connection. 

You must be open to communicating with a diverse range of clients over the phone and understand that some of the content of the calls may be distressing to hear. Although it may be difficult at times, the reward of being able to support someone is one of our volunteers’ main motivations for doing this role. 

Want to find out more? 

We will be holding an open day on the 26th August where you can join our Zoom session to find out more about the role, the training involved, meet with other volunteers and hear from members of the helpline team. 

Please note that should you wish to become a Helpline Volunteer after attending the open day, you will need to apply directly through our website and you will find the upcoming course dates on the website - Volunteer for the helpline | Cruse Bereavement Support

Please click here to sign up to the Open day, or copy and paste the link in your web browser

https://buytickets.at/crusenationalservices/2315607 -

 Select tickets – Cruse Helpline Volunteer - Open Day – Zoom -

Rocky Road Rescue (Registered Charity 1198638) is a British charity helping dogs and cats in need in Romania by finding them homes here in the United Kingdom. 

We’re entirely volunteer-run meaning all the money we raise goes towards helping animals.

We need help homechecking prospective adopters! This is a fully remote role and we only ask that you commit a minimum of 3 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months.

You’re a clear communicator and loves meeting new people - the Homechecker meets prospective adopters at a key point of their journey.

You’ll be comfortable using whatsapp, google meet or equivalent to conduct video homecheck calls, following a script to check the adopters’ home set-up and make sure they understand what Romania rescues are like.

We expect that you will represent us in a professional, supportive and friendly manner, giving an unbiased summary of your conversation and a clear recommendation for or against adoption.

Your homecheck write ups will be clear and concise so the Directors can understand each adopters individual strengths and any potential challenges.

Love of cats and/or dogs essential!

In return, we will provide you with training and a friendly team of volunteers and directors to learn from and are happy to provide references attesting to your contribution to our charity.

To apply, email us with a summary of your experience, your contact details and why you'd like to volunteer with Rocky Road Rescue and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

Become a Community Discharge Support Service Volunteer and help someone get back on their feet when they come home from hospital.

What do Community Support Volunteers do?

Our friendly Community Support Volunteers visit people when they have come home from hospital, typically once a week for 4 – 6 weeks.

At a time when people are recovering and really appreciate a bit of extra help you could be supporting with shopping and light housework. But it’s often the company and encouragement of our volunteers that is appreciated the most as we check in and chat!

By doing this we help with recovery and reduce the chance of readmission to hospital.

You can also help from our office in Aylesbury  by making welfare and check in calls with our clients and helping to arrange these visits.

What you will get out of it

It's a great way to make a real difference to someone's life at a time they especially need it.

You'll be giving something back to your community

You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team

Volunteers tell us they find this really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves.

What is expected of me?

Community Support Volunteers are expected to visit each client once a week for up to 6 weeks.

These visits are flexible, based on your availability.

Our office support volunteers are asked to help for 1 – 2 hours a week.

Volunteers complete a short relevant training session and provide references.

The Dementia Services supports people to live independently and safely at home for as long as possible, stay socially engaged and carry on doing what they love. The service supports Camden residents over the age of 55 in the early or moderate stages of dementia.

We offer clients from the Dementia Services (befriending and wellbeing) a short performance or creative activity delivered by a volunteer visual artist, musician, dancer, actor, performer, and other creative artforms. You may choose to share a creative hobby or an art form you practice professionally.

What does the role involve? 

·Share your creative talent or hobby with older people living with dementia by delivering a short performance to an older person at home or providing an opportunity for them to participate in a creative activity.

·Visit a minimum of 4 times per year for up to 1.5 hours each time, including 20/30 minutes for the performance/activity.

·Provide opportunities for connection with older people during your visit through conversation and engagement.

• Liaise with service coordinators to link with clients who have asked to receive these visits/calls.
• Provide feedback after every performance, including positive impact, improvements to the delivery of visits or concerns regarding the client. 

What will you get out of it?

·An opportunity to create meaningful experiences for all

·Be part of something rewarding and fulfilling

·Training in dementia awareness, safeguarding and more

·Supervision and support

·Reimbursement of expenses

·Opportunities to meet other volunteers

What are the benefits for people living with dementia?

 Many of the clients we support in this service are housebound or do not have the confidence or opportunity to attend events. Some clients may be artists, performers and creatives in their own right who do not get an opportunity to engage with or experience this aspect of their lives anymore.

Giving people who are living with memory loss an opportunity to be part of creative activities is a stimulating, fun way of putting them in touch with memories, other people and the wider community.

Bringing your artform into peoples’ homes can have a huge impact on reducing isolation, encouraging connection and bring a sprinkle of joy to those living with dementia.

We are looking for people who have:

• An interest in sharing or performing their creative, artistic skill whether you are a hobbyist or a professional: 
• Singing

·Playing a musical instrument

·Visual art activity

·Poetry/acting

·Dancing

·Culture-specific art/music/dance/poetry

These are just a handful of examples, but we will consider applications from a variety of artists/musicians/ performers and are open to suggestions.

What other attributes do you need?

• Good verbal and written skills in English 

• Enjoy conversation.
• A desire to learn more about an individual and their interests and their past, and life history
• Consistency and reliability 
• An ability to empathise and understand the needs and experiences of an individual with dementia and memory loss.
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Patience and sensitivity
• Confidence to deal with emergencies
• Requirement to undertake induction training and follow guidelines and policies of Age UK Camden

Volunteering Hours 

Performances/activities:Usually approx. 20 -30 minutes but 1-1.5hrs are assigned to the visit

 Minimum of 4 - 6 visits a year (you can opt to do more). 

Visits will be a time agreed between you and the older person you are matched with.

Please note, early morning and late evenings are generally not suitable times for visits. 

Training and induction are provided for the role and includes: 

• Online Dementia Awareness course 
• Age UK Camden organisational induction 
• Induction to Dementia Befriending and Dementia Wellbeing Services and relationships, how to deliver a performer visit
• Safeguarding Adults online course
• Data Awareness online course

We will give you:

• Ongoing support including regular supervision by the coordinator of the service.
• Reimbursement of agreed expenses 
• Access to Volunteer Forum events

 If you are interested, we will ask you to: 

• Complete an application form

• Meet with Dementia Services staff member
• Provide details of two Referees
• Complete an Enhanced DBS check (we arrange this with you)
• Induction and training (as laid out above)

We understand that completing the various steps takes time, and we support and keep in touch with you through the process. 

As this role brings our volunteers into regular contact with vulnerable older people, we make sure that all volunteers understand their role and have completed our recruitment procedures to both our and their satisfaction. 

Help older people claim welfare benefits through home visits, form-filling and friendly support.

About Us

Age UK Buckinghamshire is a local, independent charity and part of the wider Age UK Network. We support older people across the county through vital services including befriending, information and advice, dementia support, practical help at home, and welfare benefits support - helping people stay independent, connected, and supported.

Our work is more important now than ever. Many older people face growing challenges such as the rising cost of living, social isolation, and difficulty accessing support. 

As demand for our services continues to increase, community support is essential to help us reach more people in need. By raising awareness of what we do, we can ensure that older people know where to turn for help, and inspire others to support our work through volunteering, fundraising, and partnership.

What do Welfare Benefits Volunteers do?

Help older people boost their income by becoming a Welfare Benefits Volunteer.

Many older people face financial difficulties because they are not claiming all the welfare benefits they are entitled to. At Age UK Buckinghamshire, we support older people to access the benefits they deserve by offering personalised advice and practical help.

Our trained volunteer advisors visit people in their own homes to guide them through the claims process, completing benefit forms on their behalf and ensuring applications reflect their individual circumstances.

Following full training, you will be matched with clients for one-off home visits, usually lasting one to two hours. Along the way, there’s often time for a friendly chat, and perhaps a cup of tea, while making a real difference to someone’s quality of life.

What skills does a Welfare Benefits Advisor need?

• Empathy and patience with older people
• A professional, friendly and approachable manner
• Attention to detail and good record-keeping skills
• A non-judgemental approach
• Willingness to learn about older people’s benefits

What training do we provide?

Successful applicants complete 2 training sessions covering the needs of older people and welfare benefits.  At the end of this initial training, you will be “buddied” with one or more experienced volunteers, first as an observer and later as an advisor until you have the knowledge and confidence to undertake one-to-one visits.

How much time do we expect you to give?

Once trained, you can commit to as many or as few visits per week as you wish. Each visit takes, on average, about 1 – 2 hours.  There are quarterly meetings that provide support and additional training days from time to time to keep up with new legislation.

What is our commitment to you?

• We will provide initial and ongoing training to help you develop your knowledge and skills.
• We will continue to support you in your role, providing information and advice as necessary.
• We will discuss with you any problems you may have with your role, or any concerns we have.
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses.

Age UK Bucks ‘Age Better Bucks’ volunteers will support local older people to achieve personal goals – by helping them navigate and take advantage of a Support Plan devised by as community worker, that is designed to help them meet the challenges of older age.

This could be by phoning them to provide encouragement, explanation and support, and to check on progress, and also to help them with attendance at appointments and going to new groups or activities.

What do Age Better Bucks Volunteers do?

• Work with the Community Support Connector from Age UK Bucks to accept a client and understand their goals and support plan – and which services they have been referred to for support
• Contact the client to introduce yourself, and explain what you can help them with and if that’s OK with them
• Agree how your support is best provided – e.g. weekly calls for progress and encouragement, or help with something specific on their plan. That could be a home visit (if appropriate) to help them make a call or prepare for an appointment; attend a group or activity with them; or help them take a bus etc.
• Report back to the Community Support Connector if there are any issues or concerns and agree when your support can stop
• Ideally, you’d support a few clients each week or month, depending on how much time you have

The role is to support and help the client to access the referrals and support put in place for them – and not to support them with care or specific needs yourself. Referrals might be to local care services, to local groups or clubs, or to an occupational therapist for home adaptations, other voluntary organisations and support groups etc.

Our Age Better Bucks Service

Age Better Bucks supports over 65s who could benefit from extra support to manage their well being and remain independent. It is for older people experiencing challenges or need extra support to stay independent and well – for example increasing loneliness/isolation; bereavement; health/mobility decline; mood change.

Our team of support workers will assess their needs and circumstances specific to them, and develop an action plan with them to ensure more support and help can be arranged. We check in with the client after 6 weeks to see how they are getting on, and after 6 months to see how they are and check if anything has changed, got worse or improved.

The service is designed to give people the tools, contacts and support to make positive changes and especially to tackle the impact of loneliness and isolation.

An action plan, or support plan, will be devised with all clients, identifying their main goals based on their individual needs and challenges, and referring them, with their consent only, to other services and support we agree can help. At this stage we’ll assess if a volunteer like you can help then take full advantage of this support.

What you will get out of it

• Join an enthusiastic team of people who want to make a difference
• It's a great way to support older people making a real difference to their lives
• You'll be giving something back to your community
• You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses
• Volunteers tell us they find Volunteering really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves
• You will be fully supported by our Team and wider Age UK Buckinghamshire support.

What is expected of me?

We tell you about each client and ask if you’d like to take it up. You would then arrange and complete the call or visit when convenient. The work you do is conducted in line with guidance we provide and you must comply with necessary procedures including Data Protection/Confidentiality and Personal Safety.

After the visit/contact you will complete and submit a contact form. Volunteers complete relevant training, provide references and complete a DBS check.

Key skills and requirements

• Good listener, clear communicator and able to maintain confidentiality. A good conversationalist!
• Ability to lead the conversation, provide feedback to the team and summarise the conversation.
• Non-judgmental. Able to respect others’ differences and choices
• Patient, flexible and reliable
• Able to work independently with guidance and support
• Ability to travel around the area to visit people
• A regular commitment to give 1-2 hours a week would be appreciated but the role is flexible, you can work from home, do visits, only make calls, whatever works for you.
• An interest in helping older people live the lives they want

To telephone befriendees at their home for approximately 10 to 30 minutes, you will arrange the specific times of your future calls directly with them. These calls are intended to occur once a week, but individual needs will be matched with your availability.To provide a telephone conversation, a listening ear and chat about interests and hobbies, helping to alleviate loneliness and feelings of isolation. To provide companionship and human interaction at a time when this may be limited. To provide an update after each call to the Telephone Befriending support Team. This is so we can keep a track of the amount of befriending calls each volunteer is undertaking, the type of support being offered during these calls and if there is anything further required.

It is important to note telephone befriending is not counselling or therapy and other services must be sought if this is required.

Benefits

• FREE DBS.
• Discounted food.
• Store discount.
• Volunteer from home.
• Above all you will be making a positive difference in your befriendee’s life.
• As a volunteer telephone befriender, you will learn how to support others, make friends, become more confident, and practice communication skills.
• You will gain new and transferable skills. We offer support for you to increase your own job-readiness and personal development.
• Training opportunities,
• Volunteering experience
• Detailed references will be provided.

​

Befriending Volunteer 

Would you like to offer companionship to someone who feels lonely, help them rebuild confidence, reconnect with their community, or simply brighten their week with a friendly chat? 

What do Befriending Volunteers do?

Our volunteers support older people (50+) who may be feeling lonely, isolated, or cut off from their usual activities. Volunteers help clients rebuild confidence, reconnect socially, and enjoy meaningful conversation. 

Support can take different forms depending on the client’s needs: 

Short-term Face-to-Face Support (up to 6 months) 

• Visiting someone regularly to help them work towards personal goals 

• Encouraging confidence to get out and about again 

• Supporting them to re-engage with interests, community groups, or social activities 

Long-term Befriending (for those most isolated) 

• Providing stable, ongoing social support 

• Regular facetoface or telephone companionship 

• Building a consistent and trusting relationship 

National Telephone Befriending 

• Offering friendly conversation over the phone 

• Providing regular social contact for people unable to meet in person 

This is a rewarding and varied volunteer role where every person you meet will be different — and you’ll have the chance to make a meaningful difference to their wellbeing. 

What you will get out of it

• A chance to support older people and make a real positive impact 

• A meaningful role where relationships grow and confidence returns 

• Opportunities to meet new people and experience new things 

• Being part of Age UK Buckinghamshire’s volunteer team 

• Full training, ongoing support, and guidance from your Outreach Support Worker 

Our volunteers tell us they find befriending incredibly fulfilling and often get as much from the relationship as the client does 

What is expected of me?

• We will talk you through each potential match before you decide to take it on 

• Most volunteers commit around 1–2 hours a week 

• Shortterm matches typically last up to 6 months; longterm befriending is ongoing 

• Time may be spent visiting someone at home, accompanying them to a local activity, or chatting with them by phone 

• Volunteers complete a short online training program and provide references 

• A DBS check will be required (provided at no cost) 

Who can volunteer?

If you are warm, friendly, patient, and enjoy chatting with people, this could be the role for you. You do not need any formal qualifications, just a desire to support someone who is feeling vulnerable or alone. 

Volunteer Animal Fosterer - RSPCA North West London and South Hertfordshire Branch

Could you open your home to an animal who needs a little extra time, care and love?

Not every animal is ready to go straight into their forever home. Some need somewhere quiet and comfortable while they recover from illness or treatment. Others need time to grow in confidence, experience life in a home environment or simply have someone give them the attention and reassurance they need.

That's where our fosterers come in.

By opening your home temporarily to a cat, rabbit, guinea pig or another small animal, you can give them something incredibly valuable - a safe place to settle, recover and be themselves while we find their forever home. You could be the person who helps a nervous cat discover that people can be trusted, gives a rabbit the chance to experience life in a loving home, or helps us understand exactly what an animal needs from their future family. And when the time comes for them to move on, you'll know that you played an important part in getting them there.

You won't be doing it alone Our fosterers are part of our wider animal welfare team. We'll get to know you, your home and your experience, and we'll support you throughout the placement.

We'll provide:

• Fostering training and an induction.

• Food and equipment needed for your foster animal.

• Veterinary care.

• Ongoing advice and support from our animal welfare team.

• Reimbursement of other expenses agreed with us in advance.

You'll always be able to talk to someone if you have a question or are unsure about something.

What does fostering involve?

Every foster animal is different, so no two placements will be exactly the same. Depending on the animal, you might:

• Give them a safe, comfortable and appropriate space in your home.

• Provide food, fresh water and grooming as needed.

• Spend time helping them feel safe, settled and comfortable.

• Give them plenty of appropriate play, enrichment and, when they're ready, affection and cuddles.

• Keep an eye on their behaviour and wellbeing and let our team know how they're getting on.

• Give medication or support rehabilitation where needed.

• Take them to routine or emergency veterinary appointments.

• Tell us about their personality, likes, dislikes and the progress they're making.

• Help us find the right forever home by sharing what you've learnt about them.

You don't need to be an animal behaviour expert. What matters most is patience, commitment and a willingness to learn.

Could you be a fosterer?

Fostering could be a great fit if:

• You're aged 18 or over and have good experience of caring for animals.

• Everyone in your household is happy to welcome a foster animal into your home.

• You have enough time to give an animal the care and attention they need.

• You're patient and able to adapt if their needs change.

• You live within the area covered by our Branch, as shown on the accompanying map.

• You're able to collect supplies from our offices.

• You can transport your foster animal to veterinary appointments, including urgent appointments if needed.

• Any animals already living in your home have been spayed or neutered. If this isn't possible for medical reasons, please talk to us - we can discuss your circumstances.

You don't need previous fostering experience. If you have the right experience with animals and are willing to learn, we'll provide the training and support you need.

What will you get from fostering?

Fostering can be incredibly rewarding.

You'll:

• Make a direct difference to an animal who needs your help.

• Give an animal the chance to feel safe and relaxed in a home environment.

• Help an animal recover, build confidence or prepare for adoption.

• Get to know an animal's individual personality and help us find the right forever home for them.

• Develop your animal-care knowledge and practical skills.

• Receive training and ongoing support from our team.

• Become part of our community of staff and volunteers.

• Gain valuable volunteering experience.

And, of course, you'll get to enjoy the company of your foster animal - without making the lifelong commitment that comes with adoption.

Finding the right foster animal for you

We don't expect you to foster every animal who needs a home.

Every animal is different, and we'll take the time to understand your home, your experience, your availability and the types of animals you're comfortable caring for. We'll then look for a foster placement that's a good match for both you and the animal. You'll have the opportunity to talk to us about each potential placement before you agree to take an animal. If a particular animal isn't right for you, that's absolutely fine. We want fostering to work well for everyone.

Could you give an animal a temporary home? If you've ever thought about helping an animal but adoption isn't right for you, fostering could be the perfect way to make a difference. You could give an animal the time, patience and care they need today - and help them take their next step towards a happy life in their forever home.

We'd love to hear from you.

All our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and an initial trial period. We'll ask you to provide details of two referees. Depending on the role and the animals you foster, you may also need to complete specific training and sign a volunteer agreement before you begin.

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.

To find out if this role is available in your area, please click 'Redirect to recruiter' at the top or bottom of the page, and use the postcode search function on the Guide Dogs website to explore local opportunities.