Volunteering for the Lea Valley Branch is most rewarding. Current volunteering possibilities are listed below. Please call us on 0333 567 4746 or email:
enquiries@leavalley.cats.org.uk to register your interest in any of the roles.
Please note that
we do not have a cattery or centre where we keep cats; all cats in our care are kept in volunteer fosterers' private houses or in purpose-built pens in their gardens.
Accordingly, we are unable to offer part-time volunteering for those looking for a hands-on role caring for cats.
The nearest charity catteries or centres to our area are the RSPCA centres in Enfield (020 8366 3313) and South Ridge, near Potters Bar (0300 123 0704) and The Scratching Post in Waltham Abbey (01992 626110).
MORE INFORMATION ON OUR VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING THE LINK IN THE RELEVANT YELLOW BOX BELOW.
Feral Cat TrappersFeral cats are often the offspring of stray or abandoned domestic cats and can be found living in urban and rural areas. Cats Protection strives to control the number and size of feral colonies by what we call 'TNR'. This involves:
Trapping the cat(s) using humane trapping methods
Neutering – taking the cat(s) to a local vet to be neutered
Returning the cat(s) to their 'home' (or occasionally finding a suitable alternative)
the role includes:
Working with members of the public who live near to feral colonies
Working closely with vets to arrange neutering
Working closely with other volunteers
If you can drive, have use of a car or van and enjoy meeting people and making a real difference to the lives of feral and stray cats, then please call us on 0333 567 4746 or email:
enquiries@leavalley.cats.org.uk to register your interest. Training and equipment will be provided and mileage costs can be reclaimed.
Welfare Team Leader
This is an important role, making decisions on which cats and kittens we are able to bring into care, which fosterer is most appropriate to provide care and, if required, how best to treat them whilst in our care. The role also involves co-ordinating, encouraging and supporting our fosterers, helping to make sure that our volunteers with direct cat care roles are happy and confident, providing advice and guidance when needed. Ideally, you will have a basic knowledge and experience of cat welfare and a basic knowledge of IT apps. If this role seems right for you, then please contact us on 0333 567 4746 or email: enquiries@leavalley.cats.org.uk. More details are in the yellow box below.
Shop Assistants / Donation SortersAlthough we are fortunate in having a splendid band of volunteers working in our 145 Chase Side, Enfield shop, we still need more people prepared to work half or full days (normally 11am - 3pm, Monday - Saturday, if only to cover for holidays and other absences from the norm. In particular, we need volunteers who are prepared to work regularly on Saturdays. If you are interested in working in our ‘Aladdin’s Cave’, or know of someone who is, then please call 0333 567 4746 or email:
enfield.shopmanager@cats.org.uk.
Indoor FosterersWe are still desperately seeking new indoor fosterers. Some fosterers need time off for health or personal reasons, so we would be happy to consider “interim” fosterers. You do not have to make a long-term commitment. We ask you after each homed foster cat if you would like a break. Please do consider seriously this wonderfully-rewarding, hands-on role. It is so satisfying to care for and nurture a needy cat, and be a central part of the team in finding him/her a good home. Full support is given throughout and all food, litter and equipment provided. Vet bills are paid directly so there are no on-going costs to you and we are happy to refund mileage costs. It is helpful to have transport of your own. Please contact us on 0333 567 4746 or email:
enquiries@leavalley.cats.org.uk. More details are in the yellow box below.
Long-Term FosterersProvide a home for an older cat in our care. These cats are always harder to home and we really need people who could care for a cat in its remaining months (or maybe years) of life. Depending upon the cat, the branch could support you financially and practically. If you want to make a real difference to older cats, then please call us on 0333 567 4746 or email:
enquiries@leavalley.cats.org.uk to register your interest.
Fosterer volunteer
Across the UK, many cats are cared for by volunteer fosterers who provide a stable, safe and loving environment in their homes or in purpose-built pens in their gardens. They provide vital hands-on care and accommodation to stray or abandoned cats or cats whose owners could sadly no longer keep them, and are part of a dedicated team of volunteers committed to finding new homes for cats in need. Our fosterers carry out this role with support from their local branch or centre.
Most of our fosterers care for one or two cats at a time and enjoy providing lots of TLC to those cats, who have been pre-loved or have had a difficult start in life. Some of our fosterers look after new mums and kittens and provide round-the-clock care to newborns to give them the best start in life.
Closing date: 19 Jun 2024
Cat Welfare Team Leader Volunteer
Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help. Our Cat Welfare Team Leaders have the important role of coordinating, encouraging and supporting teams of fosterer volunteers and cat care volunteers. They help make sure volunteers with direct cat care roles are happy and confident and provide advice and guidance when needed. This incredible teamwork means we are able to help more cats and kittens in need.
Closing date: 19 Jun 2024
Cat Admissions Volunteer
Our cat admissions volunteers ensure the smooth running of our admissions process, helping our volunteer groups and teams admit cats into our care in the most effective and stress-free way possible for both people and cats. This role is undertaken from your own home. This could be the perfect volunteer role if you have administration experience, a passion for cats, or both!
Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection, we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help.
Closing date: 19 Jun 2024
Enquiries Volunteer
As a charity we receive numerous enquiries on a daily basis from members of the public related to cats and feline welfare. Our enquiries volunteers are part of a passionate team of volunteers that help Cats Protection signpost and manage these enquiries. They help our feline friends answering questions from members of the public, providing advice and signposting queries to other volunteers and employees if needed.
Closing date: 19 Jun 2024