Raystede is an exciting and rewarding place to volunteer. We have over 200 volunteers at Raystede all committed to giving animals a better life.
As restrictions are starting to ease, we are planning to bring back our volunteers slowly and safely.
In the meantime, we have some exciting new volunteering roles in our Visitor Information, Fundraising and Marketing teams.
We have over 200 volunteers at Raystede all committed to giving animals a better life. Their generosity and dedication allows Raystede to provide a caring environment for all our animals.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
What is a Welcome Team Volunteer?
Welcome Team Volunteers have a vital role to play by welcoming our visitors to site and delivering the first part of a memorable and enjoyable day that enhances our visitors’ experience. They have a good knowledge of the site, enjoy giving information and have a passion for Raystede and animal welfare.
The role involves welcoming visitors, helping them to discover our site, what animals live here and how to get the most from their visit. Welcome Team volunteers help to protect the health and safety of visitors and play a part in safeguarding the site and our animals.
Welcome Team volunteers work closely with Raystede’s Visitor Information Team and Visitor Engagement Volunteers to give visitors a greater appreciation of animal welfare and the charity.
What are the benefits to you?
· Being part of a friendly and dedicated team
· Meeting and interacting with people from all walks of life
· Volunteering in a beautiful countryside location
· Learning new and useful skills
· Uniform and access to training
· Discount in our café and on pet goods
· Entry to the site before or after shifts
What is the time commitment?
Shifts are between the hours of 10am and 3pm, 7 days a week. Shifts are organised and allocated in advance on a rota system. You can give as much of your time as you would like however most volunteers do a 2 hour shift once a week.
What’s involved?
· Welcoming our visitors (who have booked online) and checking them in through our simple, user-friendly online system
· Interacting with people and being happy and confident in talking to visitors when they arrive
· Recognising and supporting the specific access needs of all visitors and helping make sure that they have a comfortable, enjoyable, and memorable visit
· Being part of a rota system
· Becoming familiar with Raystede policies including following fire and security procedures
· Provide information and maps and answering initial queries about their visit
· Supporting any other activities relevant to the role
Who is this suitable for?
This role is suitable for someone who enjoys talking to people. You will have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, be confident in talking to people, have good time management skills and a passion for animal welfare. You will be good at conveying information in a cohesive and accessible way and be able to adapt your skills and knowledge to suit different audiences.
How will I make a difference?
Animal welfare education starts from the moment our visitors arrive and you will be the first touch point for setting the expectation of our visitors' experience. By helping our visitors start their journey around our site, you can ensure they know where to go and how to interact with our animals to enhance their visit and protect the high standards of animal welfare onsite.
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to:
or
Volunteering Department, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
What is a Visitor Engagement Volunteer?
Visitor Engagement (VE) Volunteers have an important role to play through engaging with our general daily visitors at Raystede. VE volunteers answer questions, share facts about our animals and help maintain a calm environment around site. They have a good knowledge of the work of our charity and our animals. They communicate with the public in a friendly manner to deliver our key learning messages.
Visitor Engagement volunteers work closely with the Visitor Information Team and Welcome Team volunteers to give visitors a greater appreciation of animal welfare and the work of Raystede.
For passionate individuals who are confident in public speaking, there is an opportunity to develop this role further into delivering talks and tours.
What’s in it for you?
· Being part of a friendly and dedicated team
· Volunteering in a beautiful countryside location
· Learning new and transferable skills
· Opportunities to deliver talks and tours
· Uniform and access to training
· Discount in our café and on pet goods
· Entry to the site before or after shifts
What is the time commitment?
Shifts are between the hours of 11am and 3pm, 7 days a week. Shifts are organised and allocated in advance on a rota system. You can give as much of your time as you would like however most volunteers commit to a regular weekly shift of 2 hours or more.
What’s involved?
· Interacting with visitors and responding to questions about our animals
· Helping to maintain a safe and calm environment for visitors and our animals
· Providing information leaflets and directing visitors around the site
· Recognising and supporting the specific access needs of all visitors, helping make sure that they have an enjoyable and memorable visit
· Being part of a rota system
· Becoming familiar with Raystede policies including following fire and security procedures
· Supporting any other activities relevant to the role
Who is this suitable for?
This role is suitable for someone who enjoys talking to people, including children and helping them learn about animal welfare. A friendly, approachable manner and excellent communication skills are a must. A passion for animal welfare and commitment to helping Raystede deliver key messages is essential.
How will I make a difference?
By helping our visitors to learn about animal welfare, you are supporting the educational aims of the charity and animals more widely.
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to:
or
Volunteering Department, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
What is a Raystede Community Champion?
Are you passionate about Raystede and want to help spread awareness of our charity? Raystede Community Champions are a key part of the fundraising team and act as the leading community volunteer and point of contact for their local area. They spread awareness of the animal welfare work at Raystede and raise funds from their local community. If you enjoy being at the heart of your community and could help with bucket collections, attending local events, distributing flyers, sourcing raffle prizes from local businesses and sharing posts on social media then this is the role for you. You might even consider organising some of your own fundraising events for Raystede. You will help spread awareness about the animal welfare work we do at Raystede and help us to raise funds. You will be an ambassador for Raystede in your local community. We are looking for proactive individuals who are well connected, great at communicating and have excellent organisational skills. Training and support will be provided.
What are the benefits to you?
· Being part of a friendly and dedicated team
· Volunteering at the heart of your local community
· Being able to clearly see the difference you are making
· Enjoying varied and interesting work
· Meeting and connecting with people in your local area
· Learning new and useful skills
· Access to training
· Discount in our café and on pet goods
What is the time commitment?
Variable time commitment that fits into your lifestyle
What’s involved?
· Distributing flyers and posters to shops, pubs and venues in your local area
· Sourcing raffle prizes from local businesses
· Sharing posts on social media
· Helping with bucket collections
· Attending events in your local community and running a stall (stall and activity provided)
· Organising some of your own fundraising events
Who is this suitable for?
This role is suitable for someone who loves being at the heart of the local community and is passionate about animals. You will be proactive, well connected and great at communicating. If you enjoy connecting with people and inspiring people to help improve the life of our animals, then this is the role for you.
How will you make a difference?
By helping us to raise money to look after the animals at Raystede.
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to:
or
Volunteering Department, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
What is a Collecting Box Volunteer?
Collecting Box Volunteers work with the fundraising team to help raise money to look after and rehome the animals at Raystede. They assist with collecting and dropping off the blue Raystede collecting tins at supermarkets, shops, hairdressers, gyms, pubs and restaurants and all sort of other venues around Sussex. You will be given a list of venues who have agreed to take a tin or have their tin replaced and will travel by car to distribute the tins, making sure to say a big thank you wherever you go.
What are the benefits to you?
· Being part of a friendly and dedicated team
· Visiting a wide range of venues and locations around Sussex, meeting new people
· Working independently from your car
· Mileage and parking expenses paid
· Discount in our café and on pet goods
· Knowing that you are making a difference.
What is the time commitment?
Shifts are 3-7 hours a week, between Monday and Friday 8.30-4.30.
What’s involved?
· Driving to a list of locations around Sussex
· Delivering and picking up collecting tins, from pre-arranged placements
· Issuing a receipt for the collection of tins
· Popping in to see the fundraising team at Raystede to drop off the tins
Who is this suitable for?
This role is suitable for someone who enjoys driving, and visiting different locations. You must have a full clean driving license, access to your own car and be able to include volunteering mileage on your insurance. You will enjoy meeting people and be happy to thank shops and venues for raising money for us.
How will you make a difference?
By helping us to raise money to look after the animals at Raystede.
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to:
or
Volunteering Department, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for Volunteers to join our small Online Sales Team. If you have an interest and/or knowledge of online sales, we would love to hear from you.
Over the coming months we will be expanding our presence online, exploring alternative platforms and growing our business and you could be an important part of our development at this exciting time.
We are looking for volunteer Online Sales Assistants to research our items and create draft listings. Our items are all donated and there is always an eclectic mix of pieces to sell. Anything from designer clothes to teapots, or dog crates to stamps.
If this sounds interesting to you and you’d like to help, please read our role description and fill in our volunteer application form
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to:
or
Volunteering Department, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
Family Learning Day (FLD) Volunteers have an important role to play through engaging with our visitors at Raystede on Wednesdays & Thursdays during the school holidays. FLD volunteers answer questions, share facts about our animals and help maintain a calm environment around site. They will be guided by the Education team who will give them a good knowledge of the activities provided for families during the holidays and general knowledge of our charity and our animals. They communicate with the public in a friendly manner to deliver our key learning messages.
What’s in it for you?
· Being part of a friendly and dedicated team
· Volunteering in a beautiful countryside location
· Learning new and transferable skills
· Opportunities to deliver talks and share Raystede knowledge
· Uniform and access to training
· Discount in our café and on pet goods
· Entry to the site before or after shifts
What is the time commitment?
Shifts are between the hours of 10am and 4pm, on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the school holidays. Shifts are organised and allocated in advance on a rota system. You can give as much of your time as you would like however most volunteers commit to a regular weekly shift of 3 hours or more.
What’s involved?
· Interacting with visitors and responding to questions about our activities and our animals as guided by the education team
· Helping to maintain a safe and calm environment for visitors and our animals
· Providing information leaflets and directing visitors around the site
· Being part of a rota system on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the school holidays
· Becoming familiar with Raystede policies including following fire and security procedures
· Supporting any other activities relevant to the role
Who is this suitable for?
This role is suitable for someone who enjoys talking to people, including children and helping them learn about animal welfare. A friendly, approachable manner and excellent communication skills are a must. A passion for animal welfare and commitment to helping Raystede deliver key messages is essential.
How will I make a difference?
By helping our visitors to learn about animal welfare, you are supporting the educational aims of the charity and animals more widely.
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to:
or
Volunteering Department, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for a volunteer to help us to deliver Tuesday Tours for visiting school and community groups, every Tuesday during term time. Groups enjoy a guided tour of Raystede, as well as self-led bird spotting and code cracking challenges. Our TT volunteer will assist the Education team with the guided tour and will then support the group in their efforts to spot wild birds and to crack the code. Our volunteer will be trained by the Education team in our key animal welfare messages, as well as in the general purpose of our charity. They will need to communicate this information to our visiting groups, in a friendly and professional manner, as well as being confident in answering questions and helping to manage groups of children and young people.
What’s in it for you?
· Being part of a friendly and dedicated team
· Volunteering in a beautiful countryside location
· Learning new and transferable skills
· Opportunities to deliver talks and share Raystede knowledge
· Uniform and access to training
· Discount in our café and on pet goods
· Entry to the site before or after shifts
What is the time commitment?
Shifts are between the hours of 9.45 – 12.45 on Tuesdays during term time only.
What’s involved?
· Interacting with visitors (mainly children) and responding to questions about our activities and our animals as guided by the education team
· Helping to maintain a safe and calm environment for visitors and our animals & directing visitors around the site
· Becoming familiar with Raystede policies including following fire and security procedures
· Supporting any other activities relevant to the role
Who is this suitable for?
This role is suitable for someone who enjoys talking to people, particularly children and helping them learn about animal welfare. A friendly, approachable manner and excellent communication skills are a must. A passion for animal welfare and commitment to helping Raystede deliver key messages is essential. Experience working with school-age groups would be an advantage.
How will I make a difference?
By helping our visitors to learn about animal welfare, you are supporting the educational aims of the charity and animals more widely.
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
Helping Hands Company Volunteering
What is the Helping Hands scheme?
Designed specifically for company teams, our Helping Hands days are a great way to get out of the office and make a difference to Raystede and the animals in our care.
What are the benefits to you?
What is the time commitment?
We understand that most people don’t wish to take too much time out of the office, so we offer single volunteering days, 9-4pm on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
What’s involved?
You will be asked to undertake a selection of maintenance or gardening tasks to help keep the site presentable or to benefit the animals.
This could involve weeding, mending fencing, maintaining pastures to benefit horses’ hooves or tending the memorial garden at our Peaceways site.
As part of our Covid precautions, you will be asked to bring your own gardening gloves.
Who is this suitable for?
Any office-based team who are happy to get stuck in, make a difference and have fun with colleagues outdoors. Groups of around 10 people are ideal.
How will I make a difference?
Our small Estates Team manage the whole of our 43 acre site and deal with everything from gardening, building repairs, animal housing upgrades and, of course, unexpected weather damage. It is important to keep the site presentable for our visitors but also to maintain verges and wildflower areas to ensure the safety of our animals. Horses, for example, can trip in holes dug by rabbits, causing large vets’ bills, or they are prone to munching weeds at the side of their grazing sites which can contribute to equine obesity. A day’s gardening could help prevent animal suffering and save Raystede money.
For more information and to apply:
Email Jennifer Deane, Corporate Partnerships Manager, at jdeane@raystede.org or call on 01825 627090.
More information about how we partner with companies is available here
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for organised volunteers to provide support to the busy retail team in our new Lewes shop. Sorting, pricing and reviewing books kindly donated by supporters. This role is suitable for anyone who enjoys working in a retail environment and is interested in books.
Reporting to: Shop Manager
Days or Hours Required: Various shifts available
Description of duties:
Skills and Experience you will need:
An enthusiasm for books.
How you will make a difference:
All of the income generated from our busy onsite shop goes straight back into the vital work we do in rehabilitation, rehoming and sanctuary of our animals.
What we offer you:
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to: volunteering@raystede.org
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for organised volunteers to provide support to the busy retail team in our new Lewes shop. Sorting and pricing donated items, arranging shelves and creating displays. This role is suitable for anyone who enjoys working in a retail environment and has an eye for merchandising.
Reporting to: Shop Manager
Location: Raystede shop, Lewes
Days or Hours Required: Various shifts available
Description of duties:
Talking to customers and making them feel welcome in the shop.
Advising and helping people as they shop.
Operating the till and dealing with various types of payment.
Answering customer enquiries.
Routine dusting and cleaning of the shop, when required
Skills and Experience you will need:
An enthusiasm for fashion and accessories.
An appreciation of quality and knowledge of brands.
The ability to work quickly and accurately.
The ability to work as part of a team.
How you will make a difference:
All of the income generated from our busy onsite shop goes straight back into the vital work we do in rehabilitation, rehoming and sanctuary of our animals.
What we offer you:
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to: volunteering@raystede.org
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for customer focussed volunteers to provide friendly, helpful assistance at the till within our new Lewes shop. This role is suitable for anyone who enjoys working in a busy retail environment and who works to targets.
Reporting to: Shop Manager
Location: Raystede shop, Lewes
Days or Hours Required:
Various shifts available
Description of duties:
An interest in fashion, clothing and bric-a-brac
Previous experience of charity shop/retail environment
Previous experience of using EPOS
Good understanding of Gift Aid and how it can be used in the retail environment
The ability to work as part of a team
Skills and Experience you will need:
Operating the till and dealing with various types of payment and using our EPOS
Cashing up the till at the end of trading
Managing gift aid generation for goods sold
Answering customer enquiries
Keeping an eye on the security of the shop
Routine dusting and cleaning of the shop, when required
How you will make a difference:
All of the income generated from our busy onsite shop goes straight back into the vital work we do in rehabilitation, rehoming and sanctuary of our animals.
What we offer you:
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to: volunteering@raystede.org
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for customer focussed volunteers to provide friendly, helpful assistance within our new Lewes shop. This role is suitable for anyone who enjoys working in a busy retail environment.
Reporting to: Shop Manager
Location: Raystede shop, Lewes
Days or Hours Required:
Various shifts available
Description of duties:
Talking to customers and making them feel welcome in the shop.
Advising and helping people as they shop.
Operating the till and dealing with various types of payment.
Answering customer enquiries.
Keeping an eye on the security of the shop.
Routine dusting and cleaning of the shop, when required
Skills and Experience you will need:
How you will make a difference:
All of the income generated from our busy onsite shop goes straight back into the vital work we do in rehabilitation, rehoming and sanctuary of our animals.
What we offer you:
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to: volunteering@raystede.org
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We are looking for organised volunteers to provide support to the busy retail team in the sorting area of our new Lewes shop. Sorting, preparing, and pricing clothing, shoes and accessories kindly donated by supporters. This role is suitable for anyone who enjoys working in a retail environment in a support role.
Reporting to: Shop manager
Location: Raystede shop, Lewes
Days or Hours Required: Various shifts available
Description of duties:
Sorting donations of clothes, shoes and accessories into saleable stock and items for recycling.
Preparing stock for sale by hanging, sizing, steaming and labelling each item.
Pricing garments at their full value to generate maximum income by considering the brand, quality, fashion and condition of each item.
Routine dusting and cleaning of the shop, when required
Skills and Experience you will need:
An interest in fashion and clothing.
An appreciation of quality and knowledge of brands.
The ability to work quickly and accurately.
The ability to work as part of a team.
How you will make a difference:
All of the income generated from our busy onsite shop goes straight back into the vital work we do in rehabilitation, rehoming and sanctuary of our animals.
What we offer you:
How to apply:
Download and complete our volunteer application form and send to: volunteering@raystede.org
Please note we do not accept CV's
If you have not heard from us within two weeks, thank you for your application, however please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
We rely on your support to save animal's lives & do the work we do.
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