Volunteer for us

We are looking for friendly and organised volunteers to assist with sorting, washing and drying laundry, as well as keeping our laundry room tidy. This is an important role as the supply of clean bedding, towels and toys is essential for the welfare of our animals. You will be helping us keep them comfortable, warm and entertained.

In addition to making a difference to the animals in our care, you will get to know our friendly team and gain further insight into how the Home runs.

Our volunteer requirement is on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 10:00-16:00. A weekly commitment of 2-3 hours is preferred. 

Role Profile

As a laundry room assistant, you will support our staff and animals by washing towels, blankets and animal bedding. In addition to this, you will sort through the donated bedding and towels we receive and decide what items we can keep, what can be recycled and what we need to throw away, endeavouring to waste as little as possible. You will also be ensuring that the laundry room is always kept clean and tidy and checking that machines are in proper working order.

Your activities will include:

• Cleaning and drying any laundry that is generated during the daily running of the centre
• Folding and storing clean laundry which will include bedding and towels, toys and vet beds from our recovery suite
• Sorting donated bedding and towels, deciding which can be used, recycled or disposed of
• Keeping the laundry room tidy
• Reporting any issues with the washing machines or tumble dryers to our site maintenance team

About You

This can sometimes be a messy task, so a willingness to get your hands dirty is essential as you will sometimes be cleaning soiled blankets, towels and vet beds used in our recovery suite. There is a manual handling element of the role, so this should be considered upon application.

You don’t need to have any prior experience, you will be given full onsite training on how to use our machines and where everything goes.

How to Apply

All volunteers are required to complete online Health & Safety training prior to their start date. Due to insurance restrictions, all volunteers must be over the age of 18.

Click the link below to complete an application form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Angela Chapman, Head of People & Facilities at angelachapman@bcdh.org.uk

Volunteer opportunities in our Charity Shops

Bath Cats & Dogs Home - George Street (Bath), Moorland Road (Bath) & Frome

We have fantastic volunteer opportunities across our charity shops, with flexible slots available on various days and times to suit everyone. Volunteering with us is a brilliant way to develop and expand your retail skills, gain valuable work experience for your CV, meet new people, and boost your confidence - all while making a meaningful difference to unwanted and abandoned animals in need.

Role Profile

Our shop volunteers play a vital part in the day to day running of our charity shops and help maximise sales to support Bath Cats & Dogs Home. Whether you enjoy being on the shop floor in a customer facing role or prefer helping behind the scenes, there are plenty of tasks to get involved with.

Your activities may include:

• Assisting and serving customers at the till
• Providing excellent customer service on the shop floor
• Creating attractive displays and supporting visual merchandising
• Receiving donations and promoting our Gift Aid scheme
• General shop tasks such as tidying, cleaning, dusting, and hoovering

About You

You’ll be an enthusiastic individual who enjoys meeting new people and has a passion for animals and charity retail. We ask that you are friendly, well presented, reliable, trustworthy, and able to commit to regular hours each week.

Previous retail experience is welcome but not essential. Please note that some manual handling may be required as part of the role.

We provide full inperson training covering donation sorting, retail guidelines, and our waste management and recycling processes.

How to Apply

All volunteers must complete online Health & Safety training before starting. Due to insurance restrictions, volunteers must be 18 or over.

To apply, simply click the link below and complete the application form. If your application is suitable, we will invite you for a taster session in your preferred shop.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Angela Chapman, Head of People & Facilities:
angelachapman@bcdh.org.uk

About the role

Our Distribution Volunteers play a vital role in supporting the success of Bath Cats & Dogs Home's charity shops. Working alongside paid team members and volunteers, you'll help ensure a steady flow of quality stock reaches our shops, helping to maximise income that supports the animals in our care.

Based at our Claverton Down site, you'll be part of a friendly team sorting and preparing donated items ready for distribution to our shops the next day, directly impacting the funds we raise.

Key activities could include:
•    Sorting donations into categories such as clothing, shoes, books, bric-a-brac, homeware and other retail stock
•    Preparing stock for distribution to our charity shops
•    Identifying and separating items suitable for recycling
•    Managing waste in line with Bath Cats & Dogs Home guidance and procedures
•    Helping to keep the stock sorting area organised, safe and tidy
•    Assisting with the packing and movement of stock ready for collection 
•    Communicating with team members responsible for managing distribution and volunteer drivers

About you

We're looking for enthusiastic team players who enjoy being active and like the idea of helping behind the scenes to support our charity shops.

You don't need previous retail or warehouse experience, as full training and support will be provided. Most importantly, you'll be reliable, willing to get stuck in, and happy working as part of a friendly team.

This role involves a significant amount of physical activity, including standing, sorting stock, lifting, carrying and moving donated goods. Volunteers should be comfortable lifting and carrying bags and boxes weighing up to approximately 20kg.

We're particularly looking for people who enjoy practical, hands-on tasks and are passionate about supporting Bath Cats & Dogs Home’s charity shops. 

The details

Time commitment: Wednesdays (10:00am to 2:00pm or similar)
Location: Bath Cats & Dogs Home, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AZ
Parking: Free on-site parking available

By volunteering in this role, you'll make a real difference behind the scenes, helping ensure our shops are well-stocked, our donations are used responsibly, and every possible pound raised goes towards supporting the cats and dogs in our care.

To apply

All volunteers must complete online Health & Safety training before starting. Due to insurance restrictions, volunteers must be 18 or over.

To apply, simply click the link below and complete the application form. If your application is suitable, we will invite you for a taster session in your preferred shop.

If you have any questions, please contact Clare, Retail Operations Manager on clarecaney@bcdh.org.uk

Could you be a cat foster volunteer?

Some cats find cattery life really tough - and a home environment can make all the difference, especially for kittens or nursing mums. That's where our foster volunteers come in.

We're looking for cat lovers within 30 minutes of Bath who have a spare room and time to give. No experience needed - we'll provide full training and support. We cover all costs: food, litter, bedding, toys and any medical care.

We welcome applications from all households - families, pet owners and adults-only homes alike.

Want to know more?

Read all about fostering on our dedicated fostering page »  Fostering with Bath Cats and Dogs Home

Ready to apply?

Complete the application form below and our Foster Coordinator Emma will be in touch.

Any questions? Our fostering page (link above) covers a lot of FAQS, or drop Emma a line at emmalangton@bcdh.org.uk

Why foster a dog or puppy?

Animal fostering is one of the most rewarding ways to help rescue pets in need.

Some of our rescue cats and dogs need a home environment for their best welfare at this time. As a fosterer, you'll be an amazing part of these animals' journey to a new home, fully supported by our experienced foster team.

Could you be a puppy or dog foster volunteer?

We're looking for dog lovers within 45 minutes of Bath who have time to give. No experience needed - we'll provide full training and support. We cover all costs: food, bedding, toys and any medical care.

We welcome applications from all households - families, pet owners - although we are particularly in need of adult-only pet-free homes.

It's a flexible commitment (from 6 weeks +). You can still go on holiday, and you can bring them back at any time if it just isn’t working out.

Want to know more?

Read all about fostering on our dedicated fostering page » Fostering with Bath Cats and Dogs Home

Ready to apply?

Complete the application form below and our fostering team will be in touch.

Any questions? Our fostering page (link above) covers a lot of FAQS, or drop us a line at fostering@bcdh.org.uk