Volunteering
Our volunteers are essential to everything we do, from hands-on help with the animals to administrative and fundraising support and much more. In return for your time, we aim to give you every opportunity to get the most out of volunteering for The Mayhew - through gaining new skills and experiences to help your career, and being part of a team. We'll also provide you with any training you need for your role. For a selection of frequently asked volunteering questions please click here.
Volunteering FAQ's
Q. Can I claim volunteer expenses?
A. Regretfully The Mayhew Animal Home does not provide expenses for volunteers at present.
Q. How much time do I have to commit?
A. This is very much determined by the vacancy you are interested in. Hands-on volunteering with animals requires commitment to a weekly rota, with each session lasting at least 3 hours. An events volunteer may only give 3 hours per month, depending on availability and where the events are taking place. The job description for each vacancy includes the commitment required.
Q. I work a shift pattern and want to be a kennel volunteer; can I volunteer at different times each week?
A. Unfortunately not. We are currently looking for volunteers who can work to a rota and this will require each volunteer working the same time each week.
Q. Do I need experience to volunteer?
A. Experience is advantageous, but not essential as basic training will be given.
Q. Will I be able to work hands-on with all the animals?
A. This is unlikely. We are currently taking on volunteers who will dedicate themselves to one section either dogs, cats or rabbits. However, you can apply for all sections, and if successful with more than one application you will be asked to choose which section you would prefer.
Q. Why does The Mayhew need volunteers?
A.The Mayhew employs a minimum level of staff to keep outgoing costs down, so we need volunteers to support our staff. Any money saved goes towards running The Mayhew Animal Home’
Q. Will I need to provide references?
A. Yes, we require one professional reference. The Mayhew is dependent on the generosity of the public and so we have a responsibility to protect the money and goods donated to The Mayhew and the safety of staff, students, other volunteers and the animals in our care.
Q. What if I’m taken on as a volunteer but decide I don’t like it?
A. For most roles volunteers start on a month’s trial to make sure both they and The Mayhew Animal Home are happy with the arrangement. At the end of the month the volunteer will have an informal review with the Volunteer Co-ordinator to discuss how the first month has gone, and to address any issues that have arisen. At this stage the volunteer may decide volunteering is not for them, or indeed The Mayhew may feel the volunteer doesn’t suit the role.
Q. Does The Mayhew Animal Home offer short-term work experience placements?
A. Yes, The Mayhew Animal Home does offer limited work-experience placements which are typically full-time placements for one or two weeks. This is co-ordinated by one of our Supervisors.
Q. I’m under 16 years old, can I volunteer?
A. We are unable to take volunteers younger than 16 years old due to insurance and liability cover. The only alternative at The Mayhew for younger people are work-experience placements.
Q. What is the difference between volunteering and doing the qualification in Level 2 Animal Care?
A. Volunteering is an unpaid, open ended position which does not have a qualification at the end. The qualification in Level 2 Animal Care is a part-time qualification (3 days a week) that usually takes eighteen months to complete. The cost of the qualification (approximately £850) is covered by The Mayhew Animal Home, but the student does not receive payment for their work.
Q. How do I apply?
A. Take a look at the role you're interested in and visit the bottom of the page for an application form.
The Mayhew Animal Home currently relies on over 1,000 hours per month of our volunteers time to help with our work from dog walking to kitten socialising and from administration help to carrying out home checks - so please help us and submit an application to volunteer with us today.
Ongoing vacancies
To apply for any of the vacancies below, please follow the information in the drop down box. If you have any further questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Val Hammond, on 020 8968 2346 or by email.
Job Title: Events Volunteer
Responsible To: Events Coordinator
Main Objectives
- To man a stall at a fundraising event with the purpose of raising funds and raising awareness through talking to members of the public attending the event
Main Duties
- Customer Service
- To be polite and courteous at all times
- To acknowledge all members of the public visiting the stall and respond to their questions/needs
- To promote the stated objectives and policies of The Mayhew, avoiding personal opinion if this is inconsistent with Mayhew policy
- Raising Funds
- To raise money for The Mayhew via the sale of merchandise or collection of donations
- To be proactive in the sale of goods and promotion of Friends membership, sponsorship and other initiatives e.g. Christmas Catalogue
- To be responsible when handling money and collecting Friends membership
- Raising Awareness
- To raise awareness of the work that The Mayhew Animal Home carries out, to gain support, educate, and promote initiatives e.g. Staffie Neutering Campaign, International Work
- To look for opportunities to hand out information e.g. Mayhew Magazine, Christmas Catalogue, Adoption process etc.
- Setting up / Packing Up
- To set-up the stall so it looks attractive and information, goods and prices are well displayed
- To ensure that by the use of banners and A-frames that it is obvious the stall belongs to The Mayhew Animal Home
- To ensure that money is safely stored and membership collected is clearly labelled
- Feedback
- To provide feedback to the Events Co-ordinator about how well the event went, and where things could be improved
How To Apply
To apply for the Events Volunteer role at The Mayhew Animal Home, you must print and fill in two forms, our main Volunteer Application Form, and an Events Volunteer Application Form. If you are applying for more than one volunteering vacancy at The Mayhew, you only need to send the main volunteer application form once.
Upon receipt of your application form you will either be invited to The Mayhew Animal Home for an informal interview (usually on a Thursday or Sunday) to discuss your application further, or if your application is unsuccessful you will be sent a letter or email notifying you that we will not be taking your application any further on this occasion. We aim to acknowledge your application within two weeks of receipt.
Job Title: Foster Carer
Responsible To: Re-homing Officer and/or Volunteer Co-ordinator
Main Objectives
- To provide a temporary, loving home for an animal until The Mayhew finds a suitable permanent home
- To positively contribute to the care and welfare of the animal on foster
Main Duties
- Animal Welfare
- To provide a patient, loving environment whilst the animal is on foster
- To follow Mayhew advice on any training/behavioural issues
- To follow Mayhew advice on any dietary/medical issues
- Feedback
- To provide feedback about the animal on foster to the Re-homing officer, which will help in finding the right permanent home
- Viewings for Adoption
- To be available for a potential adopter to view the animal at the foster home, or alternatively to bring the animal back to The Mayhew for a viewing
- To bring the animal back to The Mayhew when a permanent home has been found
- To refer on any interested parties offering a permanent home to the Re-homing Officer, and not make any promises about adoption that The Mayhew may not be able to keep
- Veterinary Care
- To bring the animal back to The Mayhew for any medical checks or treatment and not to another veterinary centre, unless to the RSPCA in Putney in an emergency
- Transportation
- To be responsible for the safe transportation of the animal to and from The Mayhew Animal Home
Current Areas Needed
- Cats (North, South and East London, Hertfordshire and Reading)
- Dogs: All areas and all 3 categories of foster carers:
- Long-term: For dogs who are up for adoption and for as long as it takes to find them a forever home
- Medium-term: For Pet Refuge dogs, whose owners temporarily cannot look after them, until they can be re-united or for a maximum of three months
- Short-term: For Mayhew dogs that need a maximum of 2 weeks fostering to assess their behaviour in a home environment before going up for adoption
- Rabbits all areas
How To Apply
For further details about becoming a Foster Carer with The Mayhew Animal Home, please visit our cat and dog fostering areas.
