Volun-tees

Cats Protection

We are here to help people see the world through cats’ eyes Since 1927 we have helped cats across the UK and helped people to better understand their needs. As a community of volunteers, employees, supporters and partners, we’ve improved the lives of millions of cats and transformed the way millions of people see and care for cats. Our vision is a society where every cat has their best possible life because they are protected, cared for and understood by everyone. This is not an easy thing to achieve, but that’s the point. It’s challenging and ambitious. But by moving towards it we’ll continually make the world better for cats and people. We also have a clear definition of what we all do in Cats Protection – the mission we are on to deliver our vision. We are a movement of people championing the welfare of cats. We lead society in a richer understanding of all cats and care for those that need our help. This can be summed up by our purpose. If we can help everyone to better understand cats and their needs, we can help them to behave differently towards them, to care for them in the best way and to ensure the world appreciates and protects cats. That is why our purpose is: To help people see the world through cats’ eyes

ABOUT US:

Over 90 years of Cats Protection
Today Cats Protection is the UK’s largest feline welfare charity. In nearly 100 years, we have rehomed over 2 million cats and kittens and championed the rights of cats. But where did it all begin?

During the 1920s, cats were not seen as the companion animals today – instead of much-loved pets, they were considered as nothing more than pests. Concern was expressed at the ignorance of many people regarding the needs of the domestic cat. In an attempt to raise the status of cats, a group of like-minded people gathered together at Caxton Hall in London. They formed the Cats Protection League.

Since its humble beginnings, the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and employees has never waned. Surviving war and recession and defying the odds to help as many cats as possible, our aim remains the same as it did in 1927.

1927 - Cats Protection is founded as the Cats Protection League by animal welfare campaigner Jessey Wade
1935 - Charity headquarters are set up in Slough and remain here until a move to Horsham in 1978
1940 - Tailwavers Scheme is introduced to help relieve suffering among cats in the blitzed-out areas during World War 2
1949 - Cats Protection formally begins to champion neutering to control cat numbers
1950s - A legacy enables the charity to open its first shelter at Haslemere
1960s - Cats Protection launches its first neutering voucher scheme, called Cat Population Limitation. This is extended nationwide from January 1970
1977 - The charity reaches over 10,000 supporters
1979 - Our three objectives are published for the first time: rehoming cats and kittens, informing the public about cat care and encouraging neutering
1990 - Cats Protection publishes its first teaching pack for use in schools
1994 - Cats Protection introduces microchipping into all its shelters
1998 - The charity changes its name to Cats Protection, with a new logo and branding
2004 - Headquarters move to Chelwood Gate, Sussex alongside the UK's largest cat adoption centre
2006-2011 - Cats Protection helps one million cats in just five years
2015 - Cats Protection launches the first Manifesto for cats
2017 - The charity celebrates 90 years in action and reaching 10,000 volunteers

WHY OUR WORK MATTERS:

There are millions of cats in the UK and although we’re doing a great job, we’re only reaching a fraction of those we could help. We believe that every cat – not just those that come into our care – deserves our help, and that we have the opportunity to do so much more for every type of cat and in every situation. We have the ability to positively impact the lives of millions of cats.

Our strategy is focused on giving every cat their best possible life. So, it’s not surprising that four important goals are focused around their welfare. The first goal is to ensure that all sheltered cats (not just those which we have taken into our care) have a good welfare experience. The second goal is to improve the quality of life of all owned cats, and the third goal is to ensure all feral cats (those that are unsocialised and unowned) are treated appropriately.

Finally, our fourth goal commits us to continue and develop our neutering programme to ensure the UK cat population is balanced to improve cat welfare.

Our strategy will also enable us to work more effectively together, to grow sustainably, and to reach more people who care about cats. We will only do this by living our values and supporting our people, both volunteers and employees.

OUR VALUES:

We put cats first. We are here for all cats. Their welfare is at the heart of our charity. We give them a voice and provide them with care and compassion when they need us. Cats enrich our lives, we aim to enrich theirs, celebrating and appreciating differences in each other, cat owners and in every cat.

We work as one. We are the heart of a network that connects people who care about cats. We don’t stop there; we continue to create more partnerships and expand our reach. We share our passion for cats, seek different perspectives, remove barriers, respect and value diverse perspectives and experiences

We are courageous. Doing the right thing requires courage and bravery. We want to be known and trusted, that means we must be honest, open and transparent. It means we own our actions and are always authentic. And we continue to raise the bar on cat welfare standards.

We are knowledgeable. We want to be here for all cats, and we can only do this by continuing to learn and share our expertise. We will make decisions based on evidence, see the bigger picture and strive to have the biggest impact. As experts, we share our knowledge and expertise freely. We will never stop learning about cats and their needs.

We are compassionate. We show care and compassion, considering the best way to share knowledge that reaches people in meaningful ways. We recognise that we all have a unique set of skills, expertise and experience and this collective strength makes the most difference to cats. We act in a compassionate and caring way – it’s how we make a difference to cats and each other.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN OUR PEOPLE:

At Cats Protection we welcome volunteers with open arms, no matter how much time you can give, there’s a place for you with us!

We wouldn’t be here without the amazing support of our volunteers. Whether you’re looking to volunteer in a hands-on role with the cats we help, want to volunteer in one of our charity shops or are looking for a different kind of volunteering role.

Everything we do is designed to create and maintain a safe, positive and inclusive environment for everyone. Cats Protection is committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

You’ll be part of our 9,000 strong volunteer network who we rely on to keep our branches and shops running, raise awareness of Cats Protection and help teach the next generation of pet owners about cats
We have a variety of roles, including hands-on work with cats, charity shop roles, and administration roles such as working on branch websites and managing the finances of your team
Volunteering with Cats Protection will give you the opportunity to meet lots of new people, learn new skills and make a positive change to your local community
There’s no minimum number of hours you can give – you can give whatever time you have
If you’re looking to give your time to a good cause, or want to improve your skills for your CV, that’s great! We’re happy to welcome all volunteers no matter what your goal is
Some of our volunteers have even gone on to become employees of Cats Protection, so volunteering can be a great foot in the door

HOW WE ARE DIFFERENT:

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge though Cats Protection’s learn online system, providing you with the skills to thrive as a fundraiser. You’ll also have the chance to meet new people and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

Money raised by our volunteers enables us to put cats first. Cats are at the centre of all we do. We care for them, ensure their welfare, and help others to understand and better support them.

We're looking for someone with:

Sympathy to cats and our values

Happy to be part of a team of dedicated volunteers and employees.

Flexible and adaptable to different events/activities

Open to new ideas and ways of fundraising

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we encounter as part of our activities.