Find a volunteering opportunity near you. Select your age group to see the roles suitable for you.
You must be:
“I’ve loved spending time with the cats, especially Sweetloaf! It’s been great to learn how much care goes into making sure they’re happy and ready for their new homes.” Noah, Duke of Edinburgh participant
As part of his Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, 16-year-old Noah volunteered at our North Yorkshire Cat Centre every Sunday for six months. From cleaning pens and preparing recovery spaces to socialising cats and kittens, Noah discovered the dedication it takes to keep cats healthy and happy. His experience gave him real insight into animal welfare and plenty of unforgettable moments!
As a retail volunteer, you’ll help our charity shop teams to raise the funds needed for us to make a better life for cats. The money raised in our shops goes directly to helping cats. Even raising as little as 20p makes a difference, as this is enough to feed a cat in our care for a day.
Tasks include:
As a fundraising volunteer, you’ll be part of a fun team that helps raise money to make a better life for cats. You’ll help plan and deliver exciting and varied fundraising events, such as craft fairs, cake sales, sponsored abseils and more!
Tasks include:
As a cat care volunteer, you’ll be part of a team who look after and meet the needs of cats in our care. You’ll get to spend time with the cats and keep them happy while they wait to find their forever homes.
Tasks include:
Just one hour a week for at least three months, or more if you’d like! Your schedule depends on your role and availability, and how much support your local team can provide at the time.
Minimum time commitment: three to six months
You need to do one of your Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections for six months and the others for three months.
Minimum time commitment: six to 12 months
If you have not achieved your Bronze level, you need to extend your Volunteering or the longer of your Physical or Skills sections to 12 months.
Minimum time commitment: 12 to 18 months
If you have not achieved your Silver level, you need to extend your Volunteering or the longer of your Physical or Skills sections to 18 months.
You can start your Bronze award in the school year you turn 14 (usually Year 9). You need to be aged 14+ to achieve your Duke of Edinburgh independently with us.
If you apply aged 13, you’ll need to do this by contacting your local team, as we currently don’t accept applications from under-14s on our website.
Some of our teams will accept 13-year-olds to volunteer if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. You will need to contact your local team to check.
You can volunteer alongside a parent or guardian. This is known as ‘family volunteering’. Your parent or guardian will need to contact your local Cats Protection and say that they’d like you to volunteer alongside them.
Some of our teams will accept 13-year-olds to volunteer if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. You will need to contact your local team to check.
To use the tills or steam clothes in our shops you must be aged 16+.
Yes, you can. Duke of Edinburgh participants must be aged 16+ to fundraise independently with Cats Protection, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Our cat care volunteer roles involve volunteering directly with cats and kittens. Other volunteer roles may not involve meeting any cats, but you’ll still be helping the cats in our care by raising funds. Please do speak with your local team about what volunteer roles are available.
We’re sorry your local team can’t offer you a Duke of Edinburgh opportunity. You could try contacting another local team, or wait a few weeks and contact the team again. If we still can’t offer you an opportunity, you’ll need to contact another organisation.
Yes, we will cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses when you volunteer. Speak with your local team to check which expenses you can claim for.