This National Volunteers Week (2-8 June 2025), we will be celebrating the vital role that volunteers play in the day to day running of Raystede as well as highlighting some of the many volunteering roles that we have available.
With over 300 active volunteers, Raystede offers diverse roles, from welcoming visitors and assisting in our five charity shops to maintaining the grounds, supporting education programmes, and fundraising.
Last year alone, volunteers dedicated over 85,000 hours of their time and they are the backbone of Raystede, enabling us to continue caring for more than 400 animals daily across our 43-acre site.
Heidi Christmas, Head of HR and Volunteering at Raystede said: “Our commitment to volunteering and social responsibility is about more than just recruiting helpers, it’s about fostering a culture of kindness, collaboration, and shared purpose. We really couldn’t achieve everything we do without the valuable help of all volunteers.
“We know that many of our volunteers have joined us after retirement, gaining confidence, new skills, and a renewed sense of purpose. However, we welcome anyone with an interest in our work and a commitment to supporting animals in need.”
Our volunteering programme has had a positive impact on many of those who give their time to support our work. Heather, for example, found renewed purpose through volunteering as part of the Welcome Team helping visitors to Raystede. “My days start with a sense of purpose and end with a feeling of having achieved something, however small. I have met people, helped people, and supported Raystede. In return, my mood has been lifted. I firmly believe that helping others can help people cope with the difficult things we have to come to terms with in life.”
For Mike and his wife Karen, it was at the Big Help Out initiative held during last year’s National Volunteers Week that sparked their interest in the roles available. “After the Big Help Out in 2024 we applied as volunteers in the Raystede Estates Team as we enjoy gardening. We work Wednesdays doing a variety of tasks including clearing flower beds, pruning trees, removing harmful weeds and brambles, plus generally keeping the site tidy and safe for the animals and visitors. We enjoy our varied and worthwhile shifts, while learning new skills as we go.”
There are many varied volunteering roles available from supporting the Aviaries and Equine Teams to helping in your local community in our shops and with our Education Team – find out more at here: