Volunteers

A great deal of the work at the Home depends on our team of dedicated volunteers. In this section we explain what our voluntary scheme entails and the commitment it requires...

• What a team...
• Important initial information
• Our current needs
• Dog Socialising
• Dog Walking
• Cat Socialising
• Events
• Administration
• How to apply

What a team...

We are very fortunate to have a dedicated team of approximately 210 volunteers. During 2005 they embarked on over 5583 dog walks and spent more than 24,000 hours socialising dogs and cats. Our volunteers work at our two country centres, as well as at our London home. Check out our Rescue pages for general information about the work they do.

Important initial information

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Battersea. Below you will find information on our volunteer schemes, together with an application form.

The information will give you a good idea of what is involved, and also sets out the commitment we ask for, and the level of experience required for each activity.

Please do make sure you consider this information carefully before you make an application. Please note that the Dog and Cat Socialising programmes operate between 10am and 4.30pm on weekdays and between 10am and 3.30pm on weekends.

Our Dog Walking programme operates between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday only. There is no evening activity. Our volunteers work largely unsupervised and many of our animals are strays with unknown backgrounds and temperaments, so we do not take on volunteers under the age of 16.

Our current needs

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Brands Hatch; Brands Hatch is not currently looking for volunteers as the site is undergoing extensive refurbishment. 
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Old Windsor; we are currently not recruiting for volunteers
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, London; we are currently not recruiting for volunteers.

Dog Socialising

Dog socialisers spend time with the dogs inside their kennels, or in a room somewhere else within the Home.

For many dogs the work of the socialisers is essential - often a walk to the park and return to their kennel can leave the dogs more excited and distressed than before the walk, whilst some dogs are too sick or too nervous to leave the Home.

The aim of this programme is to give the dogs human company and interaction, and to help them keep calm and cope with the extremely stressful kennel environment.

The Socialisers work with the dogs in a small area, and their activities are dictated by each dog's needs - some will want to be stroked or groomed, others will be too nervous to approach and the Socialiser will simply sit in the kennel and wait for the dog to gain confidence.

Some dogs are so excitable and over-stimulated that the Socialiser may not be able to calm them down at all during a session. The role requires a great deal of patience and empathy with dogs, the experience and confidence to read and respond appropriately to the dogs' body language, and the robustness to deal with a huge range of stress-induced behaviour in a very noisy environment and a confined space.

It can be extremely stressful and emotionally exhausting, but also incredibly rewarding for both the dogs and the socialisers.

Commitment Requested Four hours each week, preferably on the same day every week.

The socialising scheme operates on weekdays between 10am and 4.30pm and on weekends between 10am and 3.30pm. There is no evening activity. Due to the time required to recruit and train new volunteers, we ask for a minimum 5 months commitment, and for at least a 75% attendance level.

Dog Socialiser Profile

Volunteer dog socialisers must:  

• have good experience of handling dogs of all sizes


• be sufficiently confident and experienced to handle dogs that may be in a stressed state and/or of a nervous disposition


• be fit and mobile and have sufficient strength and stamina to manage strong and boisterous or untrained dogs that may jump up


• be receptive to training on, for example, how to handle over-excited/frustrated dogs - both outside of the kennel and in an enclosed environment


• be able to read and follow written instructions


• be able to write clearly in order to keep accurate records of any health/ behaviour problems noted and to keep clear records of dogs handled


• be happy working alone. Dog socialisers tend to work on their own in each dog's kennel.

Dog Walking

Dog walkers take one dog at a time for a walk in Battersea Park - each walk lasting 30 - 45 minutes, with the dog always remaining on the lead.

The aim of the programme is to provide the dogs with regular exercise, and change of scene and fresh air to help reduce stress and the other negative effects of living in a kennel.

It is also an opportunity to broaden a dog's experience of real life situations, for example, traffic, roads, joggers, cyclists, other dogs and children, and to provide the dog with some human interaction.

The role requires a reasonable level of physical fitness, as our dogs come in all shapes and sizes and many of them can be extremely strong on a lead.

It also requires patience and understanding of the dogs and the confidence to handle any situations which may arise whilst in the park - interaction between the dog and other dogs, members of the public and so on.

Dog walkers also have to "pick up" after their dogs. At some of our sites we ask all prospective dog walkers to start out as dog socialisers working with the dogs in their kennels, and most walkers continue to conduct "chill-out" sessions with the dogs on site as well as taking dogs out, helping dogs to relax and improve their interaction with humans.

Commitment Requested 

Dog walkers are asked to commit to a minimum of four hours each week, preferably on the same day each week.  The scheme operates on weekdays only between 10am and 4pm.

Due to the time required to recruit and train new volunteers, we ask for a minimum 5 months commitment, and for at least a 75% attendance level. Please note that the scheme does not operate at weekends and there is no evening activity.

Dog Walker Profile Volunteer dog walkers must:

have good experience of handling dogs of all sizes

be sufficiently confident and experienced to handle dogs that may be in a stressed state and/or of a nervous disposition

be fit and mobile and have sufficient strength and stamina to manage strong and untrained dogs that may pull or jump up

be receptive to training on, for example, proper use of leads, handling problematic dogs (eg: over-excitement, pulling on the lead, lead-frustration etc)

be able to read and follow written instructions

be able to write clearly in order to keep accurate records of any health/behaviour problems noted and to keep clear records of dogs handled

enjoy walking - you could be walking for up to 5 hours a day

Cat Socialising

Cat socialisers help to relax and comfort stressed and under-socialised cats so that they can go on to be rehomed.

Following a formal set of socialising guidelines, these volunteers spend time with cats which have been identified by staff as needing special attention. This might typically include:

• getting a cat to accept human companionship


• offering them affection


• playing with them


• grooming them where appropriate


• just being near them (never underestimate the importance of sitting quietly with a stressed cat, even if you are not actually doing anything)
  

Commitment Requested

Regular commitment of three to six hours each week (either in one or two sessions), preferably on the same days each week.

The socialising scheme operates on weekdays between 10am and 4.15pm and on weekends between 10am and 3.15pm. There is no evening activity.

Due to the time required to recruit and train new volunteers, we ask for a minimum 5 months commitment, and for at least a 75% attendance level.  

Cat Socialiser Profile Volunteer cat socialisers must:

• have extensive cat experience, either having worked with, or owned a cat


• be sufficiently confident and experienced to deal with cats which may be very stressed or have particular behaviour problems


• be fit and mobile and able to kneel, crouch or sit on the floor in order to get near a cat


• be receptive to training on, for example, how to deal with unpredictable or apparently aggressive cats


• be able to read and follow written instructions


• be able to write clearly in order to keep accurate records on a cat's behaviour


• Enjoy just being with cats. You could spend a considerable amount of time just getting a cat used to a human presence.

Events

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Events and Education Department attends numerous shows and events through out the year. These include Crufts, Discover Dogs, Royal Windsor Horse Show, South of England Show, the Wag and Bone Show, and the Ideal Home Show.

In addition we hold the Home's own shows, the Old Windsor Open Day in July, and, our main event of the year, the Annual Reunion which is held in Battersea Park each September. The Fundraising Department also attends various functions throughout the year, some being established events such as the London Marathon and some of which are smaller, ad-hoc fundraising projects which can arise at quite short notice.

They also hold an annual Christmas Reception and raffle on an evening in December.

Role and Commitment These shows and functions are currently manned by Battersea staff on their days off. We are looking for assistance to help with the manning of these shows by a team of volunteers so that we can increase the number of shows we attend throughout the year.

In advance of each event, as we discover what our needs will be, we will contact everybody on the events team to enquire about your availability. There is no regular commitment required you can respond to our call for assistance at the events which suit your schedule, and ignore those which are not convenient.

However, once you have committed to attend an event we will be relying on you to be there - it is very difficult for us if you then do not attend, so we do ask you to think carefully before offering to help.

The role of the Events volunteers is to work with the Events, Education and Fundraising teams to help promote the work of the Home at shows and events.

Tasks can include selling raffle tickets, meeting and greeting, selling Battersea merchandise from our stand, running dog games or stalls, cheering for Battersea runners in the London Marathon or dressing up as a big blue Battersea dog.

All roles will involve contact with the public, so volunteers will need to be prepared to answer questions about the Home as well as the specific event. You will be given a specific briefing and uniform to wear for the day, when you arrive at each event.

The events take place at different venues around the country, so sometimes travel will be required for some of them.

Events Volunteer Profile To be a member of this team you will need:

• the ability to communicate with the public in a professional manner
  
• a love of dogs and cats! People will come up to you and talk about / introduce you to their pets.


• flexibility as to what tasks you do and what hours you volunteer


• the ability to adapt to different show situations


• a bright and cheery manner (even at the end of a long day)


• the ability to cope with, at times, hard physical work ie set up and break down of shows and willingness to help clear up afterwards


• tact and diplomacy


• the ability to cope well under pressure at times


• cash-handling experience


• willingness to undertake training on cash tills and show equipment


• commitment to the role


• willingness to sometimes travel to events outside of London at times

Administration

We have a small number of volunteers who help out in with administrative work on an adhoc basis.

This role does not involve socialising animals and Admin volunteers may not get any contact with the animals, although they must be happy to work around animals as most of our office and admin spaces play host to Battersea dogs or cats having a break from their kennels.

The admin tasks are often routine and repetitive, and can include:

• data entry onto a spreadsheet or database


• photocopying


• filing


• laminating signs or posters


• making phone calls


• collating packs or stuffing envelopes


• helping to pack props for events


• working on reception, meeting and greeting customers


• helping in our shop, counting stock or manning the desk
Admin volunteers may work with one department, such as Fundraising, Events or communications, or may be asked to do tasks for a number of different departments.

Commitment Requested Admin volunteers work on an adhoc basis, so your volunteering schedule can vary according to our needs or your availability.

Volunteering would normally take place between our office hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. There is no evening activity.

Admin Volunteer Profile To be a member of this team you will need:

• willingness to work on repetitive, routine or boring tasks
  
• basic office and computer skills
  
• ability to read and follow written instructions
  
• willingness to undertake training on our information systems as necessary
  
• flexibility as to what tasks you do
and what hours you volunteer

• the ability to communicate with the public in a professional manner


• commitment to the role


• a love of dogs and cats
Cash handling experience would advantage.

How to apply

If you would like apply to join the Battersea volunteer team, please complete an application form. Please make sure that you read the information above before you apply. 

Regrettably, due to cost and time constraints, we are not able to acknowledge every application that we receive. If you do apply, please be assured that we will make contact with you should a suitable volunteer vacancy become available.