Become a Event Volunteer

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. 

Ideally yes, as there is a need to transport equipment to and from events, and public transport to some venues can be limited. 

We ask that you give a minimum of 24 hours a year, which equates to four full days or eight half days. However, if you would like to volunteer more hours we won’t say no! 

We go to a range of local fairs, fetes, galas, pet shops and venues such as garden centres and shopping centres. Most events are during the day at the weekends or on Bank holiday Mondays. The school holiday periods throughout the year are our busiest times. 

• Volunteers set up the TCWG stand advertising our rescue work and offering a range of cat related goods for sale, such as cat mugs, book marks, cat nip toys etc.

• Volunteers chat to visitors about the work that we do, answer cat care questions and help to educate visitors about responsible pet ownership.

• Where visitors want to support us financially, or with their time and skills volunteers chat with them about volunteering opportunities and different ways to make donations.

• Where visitors wish to grow their feline family volunteers promote ‘adopt don't shop’ and signpost to our website adoption page. 

The Event Coordination Team publish dates and venues several weeks in advance and ask for volunteers. For most events there are morning and afternoon slots available to choose from. 

Volunteers receive appropriate uniform and training to represent the charity professionally whilst interacting with the public. New volunteers always work together with an experienced volunteer until they are confident with all aspects of the role. 

Volunteers may claim mileage for journeys to and from events. 

• The Events volunteers are vital to publicising TCWG within our community, letting local people know about the rescue work that we do, and making sure that they think of us when they need help with cat issues. The sorts of things that we can help with include managing feral colonies, rescuing stray, abandoned or injured cats, searching for lost cats, and assisting people in need to neuter their own pet cats.

• The funds raised at Events are entirely spent on looking after cats in our care, buying food and bedding, toys and medicines.

• Publicising the work of TCWG also increases the number of people who think of us when they want to adopt a new cat or kitten, which helps us ensure that every cat that we rescue and rehabilitate is found a local, loving, forever home.

• Events are also a vital element in encouraging local people to support us with time or money. As you can see attending Events contributes hugely to all aspects of our caring for cats in need.

The animal lovers we get to chat with are often lovely, it feels good to work in a close knit and supportive team, and although events can definitely be tiring it feels great to be able to do something really positive to help cats in need.