How do you go about volunteering for places like animal shelters?

Posted by Perspii7@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 15 comments

Or homeless shelters or whatever, that kinda thing

How do you find them, and what are other places to volunteer at (i’m 22 and male)

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LankyConfidence5323@reddit

You can just search “volunteer work for animals” or “animal volunteer opportunities” and add your location. You’ll find pages like this one: https://wagspetadoption.org/adopt/

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Called them up, asked how I could help in a volunteering capacity. Ended up packing the van with others and driving to the locations and let them pick the stuff they need. Then drive to next location. Until the end of the round and then drive back, put everything back into the warehouse, cleaned the crates and that was it.

Hard to say it felt rewarding in the moment, but I knew I made a difference.

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Swimming-Lie5369@reddit

Your local council website might have a list of local charities looking for volunteers.

Or search "Voluntary Action [location]" should also give you a good list.

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Additional-Guard-211@reddit

Also university, mine does. No need to be a student.

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EnjoysAGoodRead@reddit

Google them, and then just email or call them and ask if they need any volunteers.

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Woollen53@reddit

I volunteer at a homeless cafe.

I already knew the cafe was there so I just gave them a call and asked if they were taking on volunteers. They were, and invited me in to chat about what I need and what's involved. I needed a DBS check which they funded and if I wanted to work in the kitchen I needed my food safety which I would fund myself (it was like £15 online). Worked out my schedule and then turned up for my first allocated shift.

Made lots of friends, got to know a lot of our local homeless (which was helpful because I give change in the street and now I knew who was in what situation when I have to choose who I can afford to help). Built my confidence up massively and got a reference for my current job. It was emotionally hard tho.

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a-liquid-sky@reddit

.... Use Google to find local ones. Contact them and ask if you can help out.

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jamnut@reddit

Nah, that sounds far too simple to be true!

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Perspii7@reddit (OP)

I was hoping for more personal accounts of what it’s like than what google provides but whatever

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DangerousDisplay7664@reddit

Then why didn’t you ask for personal accounts in your post? People here are not mind readers!

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a-liquid-sky@reddit

They will all be different.

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Opposite_Funny9958@reddit

I volunteered at a mental health charity shop when coming out of a very dark place personally; I said I couldn’t do the garment steaming for physical reasons and told them I wouldn’t do the till - that was OK, they had other volunteers for that. I was there for several months and really enjoyed it. As others have said, see what local charities there are near you and call them!

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