Enquiries volunteer

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

As a charity we receive numerous enquiries on a daily basis from members of the public related to cats and their welfare. Our enquiries volunteers are part of a passionate team of volunteers that help Cats Protection signpost and manage these enquiries. They help our cats by answering questions from members of the public, providing advice and signposting queries to other volunteers and employees if needed.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• 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

A bit more information about this role and the team

As a Cat Line Volunteer, you will play an important administrative role in helping the Derby & District Cats Protection Branch respond to enquiries from members of the public.

This home-based role involves monitoring the branch Cat Line throughout the day and ensuring that enquiries are passed promptly to the appropriate volunteer within the branch or, where relevant, the wider Cats Protection organisation. By acting as the first point of contact, you will help ensure that people receive the support and information they need as quickly as possible and help cats in need.

The branch is currently looking for two volunteers: one to cover Tuesdays and one to cover Thursdays.

What You'll Be Doing

• Phoning into the branch Cat Line every couple of hours between 9:00am and 6:00pm to check for new voicemail messages. You will not be required to monitor the Cat Line for the entire time, but regular check ins throughout the day.
• Listening to and recording details of enquiries received.
• Forwarding enquiries by email or telephone to the appropriate branch volunteer or Cats Protection team.
• Maintaining clear and accurate communication when passing on information.
• Supporting the smooth running of branch activities by ensuring enquiries reach the right person promptly.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for volunteers who:

• Are confident communicating by telephone and email.
• Have good organisational and administrative skills.
• Are reliable and able to check messages regularly throughout their allocated day.
• Have a good knowledge of Derby and the surrounding areas.
• Can handle information sensitively and professionally.
• Are comfortable working independently from home.

Training and Support

You won't be expected to know everything from day one. Full training will be provided, and a Welfare Volunteer will be on hand to offer ongoing guidance and support. We will ensure you feel confident and competent in your role and have access to help and guidence. 

When applying, please confirm which day you're applying for, either the Tuesday or Thursday role, thank you.

What we need from you

• Responding to enquiries from members of the public 
• Communicating with others and providing information in response to queries
• Signposting queries and requests to other team members  

Time expectation 

Our enquiries volunteers usually spend 4 to 6 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. 

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

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.