Introduction
All of the activities required to operate the charity are completed by a team of dedicated hard working volunteers. From mucking out and attending to the needs of animals big and small, to managing 27 acres of land, miles of fencing, maintaining vehicles and equipment.
We are a team of motivated, well organised, hard working ordinary people who share a passion for caring for all animals.
Unique Opportunity
We offer a very unique opportunity to be part of the Brinsley Family, an opportunity of mutual benefit.
Diverse Experiences – We are one of a handful of organisations nationally that rescue such a large variety of species. We rescue all native wildlife, as well as farm animals and domestic pets. Volunteering with us is an opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and experience with a multitude of species.
The majority of volunteering work is caring for the day to day of the animals, cleaning out animal enclosures, the more time volunteering with us, the greater and wider the experiences gained. Over time, as our volunteers build their confidence, we encourage a wider involvement and taking on more responsibilities for the charities’ activities.
The Brinsley Family – We offer the opportunity to help amazing animals, and meet like-minded people volunteering to make the world a better place for both animals and humans. Through volunteering with us, many people have made great friends. We encourage a community environment and organise events and social gatherings.
Our Culture – We offer an open-minded, friendly and welcoming environment, and welcome volunteers from all walks of life no matter what your previous experience caring for animals, Being motivated, reliable and dependable, no matter the weather, are the important qualities we look for in volunteers.
Work Placement Volunteering
We can offer placements for shorter term volunteering such as work placements for Schools and higher education, places are limited so please get in touch in good time to see if we can support.
Pet & Farm Animal Volunteer
We start with mucking out the stables, then we clean out the poultry, rabbits, pigs and sheep, before clearing the animal faeces from the grazing fields.
This is a long-term volunteering role outside in all weathers. Volunteers arrive at 8am and aim to complete a 2- 4 hour shift each week.
.Previous experience with pets and large farm animals is not necessary, but being available for regular early starts, a love of the outdoors and a passion for animal welfare is a must!
Please do not use this application form for short-term volunteering such as work placement.
Wildlife Hospital Volunteer
This long-term volunteering role is part of a small team but often working on your own. The tasks are predominantly cleaning and sterilising cages and work surfaces, along with assessing and attending to the variety of wildlife in our care.
Working in our hospital requires a lot of additional training and therefore we are only able to offer opportunities to persons with veterinary or wildlife rehabilitation experience or our existing volunteers, that have been with us for sometime and proved themselves to be reliable and regular.
Maintenance Volunteer
With 27 acres of land, buildings, animal enclosures and vehicles, there are always lots of maintenance activities to be completed, as well as projects to deliver.
This is a long-term role. We need volunteers with good DIY skills who can work in small teams as well as drive and complete tasks on their own.
Cat Foster Volunteer
We want cats to feel truly at home while in foster care, so they can relax and show their natural behaviours. This helps us better understand their personalities and needs, making it easier to find the right permanent home. It also allows potential adopters to meet cats in a comfortable home setting.
A cat foster’s role is to care for, assess, and nurture the cats they look after, helping the charity find them a safe and loving forever home.
Corporate Days / Team Building
We can occasionally host small teams for corporate work days, please contact us to discuss.
Questions & Answers
Q. Is there a minimum age? – Other than for organised Work Placements (by arrangement) the minimum age for volunteering is 16.
Q. Do you offer apprenticeships or paid work? – Everyone at the sanctuary is an unpaid volunteer, we do not employ any staff or offer apprenticeships.
Q. Do you offer places for Duke of Edinburgh? – Unfortunately we are not able to offer volunteering places for DoE.
Q. Can I volunteer in the wildlife hospital? – Working with wildlife in our hospital requires a lot of additional supervision and training and therefore we are only able to offer volunteering opportunities to persons with existing wildlife rehabilitation experience or our existing volunteers, that have been with us for sometime and proved themselves to be reliable and regular.
Q. Can I just look after one species? – We work as a team and so need volunteers that want to get involved with all activities.
Q. I have a disability, can I volunteer? – We do our very best to accommodate everyone, if you can join us without putting yourself at risk then we will do all that we can to include you as we do everyone. If in doubt please get in touch.
Q. Do you offer free accommodation? – We do not provide accommodation for volunteers.