Volunteer

This can vary depending on the role you are volunteering in, but ideally once a week. Please check the details for the role you are interested in.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept volunteers who are under 18 years of age but if you are unable to volunteer for us, you could consider helping us to raise vital funds instead.

Volunteer positions are advertised on our current opportunities page. 

To apply for a role please click on the role and follow the instructions. Please note we do not operate a waiting list so if you don’t see a suitable opportunity, please do check back on the website at regular intervals. You will be able to sign up to receive volunteer opportunity alerts.

Due to the time, training and costs involved to volunteer hands-on with the donkeys, we are unable to support short-term volunteering. Our volunteer scheme is designed for long term, regular volunteers as we give all our volunteers thorough training to ensure that the safety of the donkeys and that of the volunteers is the uppermost priority. The scheme is set up to compliment the work of our dedicated team of staff and we need all our volunteers to be fully trained before joining us.

However, we do offer seasonal roles helping in our Visitor Centre and shop and we occasionally have short-term projects in our offices.

Yes, some of our roles do have weekends available, just check the details of the role when applying.

Yes, absolutely! It’s important that all of our volunteers are comfortable and confident in the volunteering roles we offer. For this reason, we offer a comprehensive induction to our volunteers across all areas of the organisation. Where additional role specific training is required this will be provided and suitable to the role being undertaken.

We are unable to provide any accommodation.

• Learn new, transferable skills
• Develop existing skills
• Make a difference
• The opportunity to try something new
• Meet new and like-minded people
• Be part of a team
• Receive full training relevant to your role
• Enjoy regular get togethers to celebrate and thank our volunteers including a summer and winter party and during Volunteers’ Week.
• The Golden Bray reward and recognition awards 
• Long service badges and certificates
• Regular communication from your area of volunteering and centrally
• We like to promote the work of our volunteer teams on our social media platforms, website and external and internal publications (with consent)
• Free access to online Yoga and Pilates classes 
• Have your Bray – our bi annual volunteer survey to have your say on all things volunteering

Currently, our work experience and Duke of Edinburgh programmes are under review and therefore we are not able to accept any further applications. The website will be updated once this review is completed.

It’s your responsibility to make sure you can volunteer while in the UK. In general, if you’re from the European Union or European Economic Area you’re able to volunteer. However, you should always check the conditions of your visa. If you have any doubts or questions contact UK Visas and Immigration.

Yes, we are required by law to check all our volunteers’ eligibility to volunteer in the UK. This means that before you can start volunteering with us you will need to produce documentation to prove you have the right to volunteer in the UK such as a passport.

If you have refugee status or have exceptional leave to remain in the UK then you’re welcome to volunteer for the Trust. Likewise, if you’re an asylum seeker then you can also volunteer. If your final appeal is refused and you’re denied leave to remain then you have to stop volunteering.

Yes, but we suggest telling your Job Centre about the volunteering. For full details see the Directgov website.

If you apply to volunteer with us, we’ll need to collect the personal information you provide to process your application. We may undertake monitoring of recruitment statistics, but we won’t disclose information to a third party without your consent, unless the disclosure is required by law, such as obtaining ‘disclosure’ from the Disclosure & Barring Service.

Our Centres may also share volunteer information with us, for the purposes of keeping a register of current volunteers. Further, your personal information will be held and processed so that we can contact you about future volunteering opportunities. We’ll only hold information relating to the nature of your voluntary work and we’ll delete it in accordance with our retention policies.

The Donkey Sanctuary has insurance cover for all volunteers.

If you have any further questions about volunteering, please email us.

Both employees and volunteers are required to complete a full induction. For volunteers, there is a one day in person induction, which includes an introduction to the sanctuary, safeguarding best practice, guided tour of the site and lunch and a chance to meet other new volunteers/employees.

Following this day, there are a few online courses to complete including Health and Safety, Donkey Awareness and Donkey Care and Welfare Courses. Once at your location, you will be given as much training, support and supervision as needed until you feel comfortable.

Prospective volunteers will be provided with further information, advice and guidance when invited to induction. However, should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.