Trustee - Volunteering Lead

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our branch. They help us rescue, care for and support animals across South London — and the more great volunteers we have, the more we can achieve.

We want to take our volunteering to the next level.

As our Volunteering Lead, you’ll have the opportunity to shape how we attract, recruit, welcome, train, support and retain our volunteers. You’ll be the person helping us answer questions like: Where do we need volunteers? Who do we need? How do we find them? How do we give them a brilliant experience? And how do we keep them coming back?

You’ll take a strategic view, but this isn't a role for someone who wants to sit on the sidelines. You’ll be hands-on when needed — writing and advertising roles, talking to prospective volunteers, interviewing candidates, helping with inductions and training, and working with our existing volunteer team to make sure people feel supported and valued.

And because you're also joining our Board of Trustees, you'll have a genuine opportunity to help shape the future of the branch as a whole.

What you'll be doing

• Build our volunteering programme
• Develop and champion a clear volunteering strategy for the branch.
• Work with trustees and volunteer leads to understand where we need help — now and in the future.
• Create and maintain a clear picture of all our volunteering opportunities and vacancies.
• Make sure our volunteer roles are exciting, accessible and easy to understand.
• Spot opportunities to do things differently and attract new people to the branch.
• Get great people through the door
• Advertise volunteer opportunities across relevant platforms, social media and local community networks.
• Respond to enquiries and help prospective volunteers find the right opportunity.
• Interview and recruit new volunteers.
• Match people's skills, interests and availability with roles where they can make a real difference.
• Help us reach people and communities who may not have volunteered with us before.
• Make joining the branch feel welcoming, organised and worthwhile from day one.
• Turn volunteers into a brilliant team

Recruiting people is only half the job. You'll help us make sure volunteers have a great experience once they're here.

• Help develop effective induction and training for new volunteers.
• Work with volunteer leads to identify ongoing training and development needs.
• Make sure volunteers know where to go for help and support.
• Encourage good communication between volunteers, volunteer leads and trustees.
• Listen to volunteers and help us act on their feedback.
• Help us recognise, celebrate and thank the people who give their time.
• Think creatively about how we can keep brilliant volunteers engaged for the long term.
• Help create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive volunteer culture.

And you're a Trustee too...

Alongside your volunteering portfolio, you'll be a full member of the branch's Board of Trustees. That means you'll have a voice in the bigger picture — helping decide where the branch is going, what we prioritise and how we can have the greatest possible impact for animals in South London. You'll work with your fellow trustees on things such as:

• Strategy and future development.
• Financial oversight and sustainability.
• Risk management and good governance.
• Fundraising and income generation.
• Safeguarding, health and safety and other key responsibilities.
• Relationships with the wider RSPCA and our local community.
• Supporting the branch's activities and campaigns.
• Making sure the branch is well run and able to continue helping animals for years to come.

You don't need to have been a trustee before. What matters is that you're willing to learn, ask questions, contribute ideas and take your responsibilities seriously.

Who are we looking for?

We're particularly keen to hear from people with experience in:

• Volunteer management.
• Recruitment or HR.
• People development and training.
• Community engagement.
• Building teams.
• Communications or marketing.
• Creating great experiences for people.

But we're much more interested in what you can bring than what's written on your CV.

Maybe you've recruited and managed a team professionally. Maybe you've built a volunteer programme from scratch. Maybe you're brilliant at getting people excited about a cause and making them feel part of something. Or perhaps you've simply got fantastic people skills, loads of common sense and the energy to make things happen.

If you can bring ideas, enthusiasm, organisation and a genuine passion for people and animal welfare, we'd like to hear from you.

You'll be someone who...

• Gets people.
• Gets things done.
• Is naturally welcoming and approachable.
• Can spot potential in people.
• Enjoys connecting people with opportunities.
• Is organised without being afraid to roll up your sleeves.
• Can have difficult conversations when necessary, while remaining fair and kind.
• Likes solving problems rather than simply identifying them.
• Is comfortable taking the lead but knows how to listen.
• Can think strategically while still being happy to get stuck into the detail.
• Believes volunteers should feel valued, supported and proud of what they do.
• Wants to make a genuine difference to animals in South London.

Why join us? This isn't just a seat around a Board table. It's an opportunity to build something. You'll have the chance to transform the way our branch recruits and supports volunteers, develop a stronger and more engaged volunteer community, and ultimately increase what we can achieve for animals. You'll meet passionate people, work alongside a committed team and use your skills for something that really matters. And you'll have a genuine say in the future of your local RSPCA branch. You don't need to be an animal welfare expert. You don't need previous trustee experience. You do need to care about animals, care about people, and be prepared to get involved.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're thinking, “I could really get stuck into this,” we'd love to hear from you. Please send us a CV and short covering letter explaining who you are, why you're interested and what you could bring to the role.