Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Our shops promote sustainable shopping habits while raising vital funds for our cat companions. Central to their success are our shop volunteers who help with all aspects of the day-to-day running of our fantastic shops, serving customers, helping with stock rotation, creating displays, and everything in between!

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Ensure you have a volunteer manager who will support you to have a positive volunteering experience  
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

• Serving customers and using the till (full training provided for over 16's)
• Helping to make our shops welcoming and enjoyable places for customers to visit
• Helping to make sure our shops are organised and tidy
• Sorting, selecting, steaming (over 16 years only), sizing and pricing clothes for sale from donated stock
• Identifying and pricing items from donated stock and creating eye-catching displays
• Helping us to create content for engaging social media posts (you’ll need to be aged 18+ to post content)
• Whether you thrive being customer-facing, or prefer volunteering behind the scenes, we’ll chat with you about your preferences

A bit more information about this role and the team

Before you apply

It’s important to note that this role is based in a shop – there is no cat care involved. If you’d prefer to volunteer with cats, you can find our other volunteer opportunities here.

Before applying, please check there is a Cats Protection charity shop near you. We do not have shops in Northern Ireland currently.

You need to be aged 14 or above to volunteer in our shops, and over 16 to use the till or steam clothes. Information about volunteering in a shop as part of your Duke of Edinburgh is available here.

Time expectation 

Some of our shop assistant volunteers enjoy being in the shop for a few hours per week, others a bit less. It varies and is flexible.

You may be just the volunteer we've been looking for!

If you have any questions about the role, please get in touch with your local shop for an informal conversation.

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.