VOLUNTEERING
Current recruiting for volunteers!
Helpful Hounds is always looking for volunteers. As a small, but growing charity we are on the lookout for like-minded individuals with a passion for our work.
It may be that you love dogs or understand the families we help or just want to put something back into the community. You will find that volunteering can be great fun, very social and you know that you are helping to change lives.
There are a number of ways you or your local community group could volunteer your time and skills to help us. We do not have all the answers and are open to suggestions, so here are just a few ideas:
Organise an event
You with some friends or a local community group could help raise funds and awareness for Helpful Hounds by organising your own event!
This could include things like a bake sale, an information day at your community centre, a garden party and organising a talk for us to come and speak to you – Naturally, a Helpful Hound or maybe two will be there too!
If you are more adventurous, a Dinner Dance or Helpful Hounds Half Marathon would be great ideas.
You would have our support throughout the entire process, and we would advertise the event on our social media and website. Ideas welcome!
Volunteer your skills
Helpful Hounds is always on the lookout for skilled volunteers who are ready, willing and able to help with the day to day running of the charity. These are all vital activities and you will not be alone as everyone, except our Dog Trainers, are Volunteers. That includes the CEO. We really need Volunteers, to help us grow, in areas such as:
- Admin Work
- Public Relations and Marketing
- Fundraising
- Puppy Parent
Whatever time or expertise you are able to give will be greatly appreciated. Please see below for current opportunities.
Current Volunteering Opportunities
Job Title: Volunteer Social Media Assistant (Part-Time)
Location: Remote / Flexible
Time Commitment: 4–8 hours per week
Type: Volunteer
Role Overview:
We are looking for a creative and reliable Volunteer Social Media Assistant to help support our charity’s online presence. In this role, you will assist with creating and scheduling content, engaging with our online community, and helping raise awareness of our mission across social media platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in creating engaging social media posts (text, images, and short videos)
- Schedule posts across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or TikTok
- Monitor comments and messages and help respond where appropriate
- Support campaigns to promote events, fundraising, and awareness initiatives
- Help track basic engagement metrics and suggest ideas to improve reach
- Research relevant hashtags, trends, and content ideas
Skills & Experience:
- Interest in social media, marketing, or communications
- Strong written communication skills
- Familiarity with major social media platforms
- Creative mindset with attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and meet agreed deadlines
What You’ll Gain:
- Hands-on experience in social media and digital communications
- Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause
- Flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule
Job Title: Volunteer Events Co-ordinator (Part-Time)
Location: Flexible / Local events
Time Commitment: 4–8 hours per week (additional hours may be available during events)
Type: Volunteer
Role Overview:
We are looking for a friendly and organised Volunteer Events Assistant to help support our charity to organise community events such as summer fairs, fundraising collections, and awareness activities. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys engaging with the public and helping events run smoothly.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support with booking and planning for face-to-face events such as community events and summer fairs
- Assist with preparing and setting up stalls on the day
- Support fundraising collections and help manage donation buckets or merchandise tables
- Welcome visitors and talk to the public about the charity’s work
- Assist with packing down and tidying after events
- Provide general support to ensure events run smoothly
Skills & Experience:
- Friendly and approachable with good communication skills
- Comfortable liaising with a variety of external stakeholders
- Comfortable speaking with members of the public
- Reliable and able to work as part of a team
- Organised and willing to help with practical tasks
- Interest in supporting community and charity activities
What You’ll Gain:
- Experience supporting community and fundraising events
- The chance to meet new people and engage with the local community
- Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause
- Flexible volunteering opportunities
Grant Writer
Location: Remote / Flexible Time Commitment: 8 hours per week Type: Volunteer Role Overview: We are looking for a detail-oriented and motivated Volunteer Grant/Bid Writer to support our charity in securing funding. In this role, you will help identify funding opportunities and assist in preparing compelling grant applications that communicate our impact and support our ongoing work. Key Responsibilities:- Research potential grant and funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, and other sources
- Assist in writing and editing grant applications and funding proposals
- Help gather information, data, and case studies to support applications
- Ensure applications are clear, accurate, and submitted on time
- Maintain existing tracker of applications, deadlines, and outcomes
- Support reporting requirements for successful grants where needed
- Strong written communication and research skills
- Good attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to present information clearly and persuasively
- Organised and able to manage multiple tasks
- Interest in fundraising, charity work, or bid writing (experience is a plus but not essential)
- Hands-on experience in grant writing and fundraising
- Insight into the funding landscape for charities
- Opportunity to make a direct impact by helping secure funding
- Flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule
Volunteer Corporate Fundraiser
Location: Remote / Flexible (with some in-person meetings/events as needed)
Time Commitment: Flexible
Type: Volunteer
Role Overview:
We are seeking a proactive and confident Volunteer Corporate Fundraising Lead to help grow our charity’s income through partnerships with businesses and organisations. In this role, you will identify and build relationships with corporate partners, develop fundraising opportunities, and play a key role in helping us reach and exceed our fundraising goals while increasing awareness of our work.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and support corporate fundraising initiatives to generate income and meet targets
- Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and new business supporters
- Create tailored proposals and communications to engage corporate donors
- Collaborate with the team to plan fundraising events, campaigns, and partnership activities
- Support the creation of promotional materials for corporate fundraising initiatives
- Maintain accurate records of partnerships, communications, and outcomes
Skills & Experience:
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Confident, professional, and able to engage with corporate stakeholders
- Good organisational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to think creatively and identify new fundraising opportunities
- Experience in fundraising, sales, partnerships, or business development is desirable
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
What You’ll Gain:
- Experience in corporate fundraising and partnership development
- Opportunity to build professional networks with businesses and organisations
- The chance to make a direct impact on the charity’s sustainability and growth
- Development of communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
- Flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule
Community Dog Assistant
Location: Remote (with some in-person visits where appropriate)
Time Commitment: 4–8 hours per week
Type: Volunteer
Role Overview:
We are looking for an organised and enthusiastic Volunteer Community Dog Assistant to support the delivery of our community dog programme. Working closely with the Community Dog Co-ordinator, you will help with the day-to-day administration and organisation of sessions, ensuring volunteers and venues are well-supported and activities run smoothly.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the Community Dog Co-ordinator with the organisation of community dog sessions
- Liaise with volunteers and venues to arrange and confirm bookings
- Maintain an up-to-date calendar of sessions and activities
- Act as a point of contact for general volunteer and venue queries, escalating where appropriate
- Gather feedback from sessions to support ongoing improvements
- Collect and organise photos and success stories for wider social media via the closed Facebook Group
- Assist with producing volunteer IDs
- Maintain accurate records and update internal databases/systems
- Provide general administrative and coordination support to ensure sessions run smoothly
Skills & Experience:
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- Friendly and approachable, with confidence liaising with a range of people
- Good attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks
- Comfortable using basic digital tools (email, spreadsheets, databases)
- Interest in community work and/or animal-related activities
- Ability to work independently while supporting a wider team
What You’ll Gain:
- Experience in coordination, administration, and community programme support
- Opportunity to work closely with volunteers and their dogs and community partners
- Development of organisational and communication skills
- Flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule
