Branch Trustee (Within travelling distance of Royal Wootton Bassett)

RSPCA North Wiltshire and Newbury District Branch Trustees

Help us make the world a better place for animals

RSPCA Branches rescue, rehabilitate and rehome those animals most at risk through clinics, animal centres, boarding and fostering facilities; offer advice and education on animal welfare; and support with microchipping, neutering and subsidised animal treatments for animals owned by people in financial difficulty.

Each RSPCA branch (of which there are approximately 140) is a separately registered unincorporated charity, operating at a local level across England and Wales. Branches did 78% of the rehoming activity across the RSPCA network in 2020, and took in 31,076 animals into their care. There are also over 300 RSPCA charity shops, all of which are run by RSPCA branches. The RSPCA has been at the forefront of animal welfare since 1824 when we were founded in a London coffee shop, and we’re proud to be the oldest animal welfare charity around.

What does RSPCA North Wiltshire and Newbury District Branch do?

We cover the Swindon, Chippenham areas of North Wiltshire and Newbury District and fundraise within this area. The animal welfare services that we offer include:

• running a large wildlife rescue centre that takes in about 3,500 animals a year. They are treated, rehabilitated and released back into the wild;
• providing subsidised neutering and microchipping for cats and dogs where the owners are unable to afford treatment;
• providing welfare assistance for the owners of sick animals who cannot afford the full cost of treatment;
• providing information on animal welfare to interested groups such as Women’s Institutes and schools

We fundraise through our network of nine charity shops and events.

For more details about our work please visit our website at https://www.rspcaoandf.org.uk/

What do RSPCA branch trustees do?

RSPCA branch trustees are volunteers who shape the work that the branch does, and are collectively responsible for governing and managing the affairs of the branch. “Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do.” “Trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run.” “They may be known by other titles, such as: directors, board members, governors, committee members” - Charity Commission.

This guidance page explains what trustees do. You can find more about RSPCA branch trustees and do a short session on 'Becoming a Branch Trustee' on the RSPCA website.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for applications from people from all social and cultural backgrounds, who are passionate about improving animal welfare. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced trustee or not, as trustee training and induction will be provided.

We are particularly interested in potential trustees who have experience in one or more of the following areas: social media and Health and Safety to fill a gap in the skills shared by our current board of trustees, so this is our priority in terms of recruiting a new trustee.

We hold meetings face-to-face about every six weeks which last between one and a half and two hours. We ask for trustees to join as many of these meetings as possible. You will also need to allow time to prepare for trustees’ meetings - creating or reading through any relevant documents ahead of meetings.

We normally meet in the evenings in Wootton Basset although in the past couple of years we have met virtually. The facility to join face-to-face meetings virtually is available where appropriate. You may need additional availability between meetings, depending on whether you decide to take on additional duties for a specific purpose.

Trustees are elected for a 12-month term each year at the branch’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), and between AGMs, branches have the ability to co-opt an additional three trustees, who serve until the next planned AGM.

What’s in it for you?

There are lots of benefits to becoming an RSPCA Branch Trustee, including:

• induction and trustee training
• claiming out-of-pocket expenses
• the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones
• the ability to use your skills to improve the well-being of animals in your local area, and make a real difference to the lives of animals
• the capacity to shape innovative projects, and be part of the RSPCA’s ten-year strategy - “Together for animal welfare”
• access to our learning hub, which contains training materials and courses on a variety of subjects
• the chance to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare
• the chance to shape the services in your local area
• volunteering is good for your well-being.

How can you find out more and apply?

If you would like to find out more about the role before applying, please contact admin@rspcaoandf.org.uk

To apply:

Please send a brief resume with a covering letter to: admin@rspcaoandf.org.uk

Interview dates:

Closing date for applications is 16th August, Interviews will be held in early September