Volunteering
How You Can Help Us To Help Animals…
Volunteers are the life-blood of our charity and we are always in need of more. There are a number ways that you can help us, such as volunteering in our charity shop, assisting with a one-off event , becoming part of our trustee committee or organising a Coffee Morning at home with your friends and family.
We run numerous profile and fundraising events throughout the year, including supermarket collections and bag packs, holding stalls at village fetes, Charity Auctions, car boot sales, sponsored walks etc.
Visit our ‘What’s On’ Page to see our latest events calendar and if you would like to join in and help at any event please drop us a line at admin@rspca-staffsnorth.org.uk or tel 07528 496 381.
Charity Shop Volunteer
We are always keen to hear from volunteers who would like to help us in all areas of our charity shops in Hanley, Cheadle and Bradwell (see our devoted page for more info). We need help on the shop floor, selling items, creating shop window displays, merchandising our stock and also we need assistance behind the scenes. This can be sorting the donated goods as they come in, steaming clothes and other items and pricing them up ready for sale. Our shop is a great and very sociable place to volunteer and all the proceeds from the shop sales enable our charity to rescue animals in need. For more information contact any member of our shop staff either by telephone (see Contact Us) or why not just pop in to one of our shops for a chat. You will always be welcome.
‘Do-It-Yourself’ Events
If you’re unable to help out at our events, maybe you’d like to run your own? We are looking for volunteers who would host small community events, maybe in your local village or even in your home. We can provide a range of resources to help you with this for events such as a ‘RSPCA Pause for Paws’ Coffee Morning, where you can have a slice of cake and a cuppa with your friends whilst raising funds for us in the process, or alternatively why not arrange a ‘RSPCA Big Quiz Night’ with your local community group or club. This is a great social evening that can help us enourmously. If you would like some help or more information, please get in touch on admin@rspca-staffsnorth.org.uk or tel 01538 388604.
Would your workplace organise a ‘Donate, Don’t Dump’ day for us?
We are looking for employees of local companies/organisations who will, on a pre-arranged date, bring to work a bag of good quality items of unwanted clothing, shoes, handbags, books, DVDs, CDs etc etc, that they no longer need so that we can sell them in our charity shop. We can arrange to have your bags collected at a convenient time and will promote your generous efforts through all our social media channels. This is a great way to add to your Corporate Social Responsibility and promote the reduce, re-use, re-cycle ethos in your workplace
If you can help in this way please contact admin@rspca-staffsnorth.org.uk
We are looking for additional Trustees
Do you have professional expertise you could use to help a good cause? Are you passionate about animal welfare? We are looking for Trustees to manage the affairs of our Branch to promote and provide animal welfare within the branch area. As a trustee of a branch, you will have the chance to influence how we care for and prevent cruelty to animals.
Key Activities
To be familiar with and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
To be familiar with the branch rules and follow them at all times.
To work with your fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
Ensure the branch meets all the minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS). Where they are not met, work with national RSPCA staff to meet the standard as soon as practicable.
In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch support specialist (BSS), write, adopt, monitor & review a branch development plan setting out the short and long term aims of your branch.
To actively participate in branch committee meetings and to attend the branch annual general meeting and regional conference.
To be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support regional initiatives.
To attend the trustee training course.
To actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers.
To welcome new trustees and volunteers to the branch.
It’s a great way to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare. You will have the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
Commitment
As a minimum, trustees would normally be expected to attend our monthly committee meeting lasting some 2 to 3 hours. Thnese are held in Hanley on the third Thursday of each month at 7.00pm. However, the commitment may vary dependent on whether or not the trustee takes on additional duties such as the role of chairman, treasurer or secretary.
Trustees are elected for a 12 month term each year. For more information on becoming a Charity Trustee, and to ensure it’s the right decision for you, we recommend visiting:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved
Experience
Most people aged 18 or over are eligible to become a trustee and you will need to become a member of the RSPCA. You will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills. You do not need to be an expert although commitment, common sense and the ability to be objective is vital.
Specific skills such as finance, fundraising, project management, business experience, awareness of employment and/or charity legislation can be useful, but not essential.
New RSPCA trustees are provided with a document “Guidance for Branch Trustees” and asked to attend a training course which provides information and guidance about a trustee’s role and responsibilities.
Ongoing support is also provided by regional and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch.
If you can help in this way please contact admin@rspca-staffsnorth.org.uk