At a glance

Skills

Governance
Advice / Advocacy
Mentoring / Coaching

Where

Hersden, CT3 4JD

Mainly at home

Travel limit? Ideally within the Canterbury/Kent area

Time

Either in or out of office hours Estimate of time needed:
0-5 hours / month, 1-3 hours / week, 3-7 hours / week or 7-15 hours / week Whilst most of our interactions are remote, the trustee board meets face-to-face every 3 months in the evening.

Deadline

31 Jan 2025

Visitors from Fifth Day

Welcome to Reach Volunteering. We are a community and registered charity that connects people, skills and good causes.

To apply for this role, and any other on our platform, you need to be based in the UK, have at least three years of experience using the skills you wish to volunteer in a professional capacity or have lived experience (for trustee roles). Read more about our criteria.

As a Branch Trustee - Animal Welfare you'll help shape our animal welfare initiatives. You’ll provide strategic guidance to the team who oversee welfare programs to improve the lives of animals in our care.

What will you be doing?

As the Animal Welfare Trustee, you’ll provide strategic direction and oversight in promoting animal welfare within our branch, collaborating with fellow trustees and branch employees to implement impactful policies and programs in line with national RSPCA Guidance. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by leveraging your expertise to further our mission and elevate our branch’s influence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Shape and guide the branch’s animal welfare strategy, ensuring alignment with broader organisational goals.
Policy and Compliance: Ensure all animal welfare initiatives meet current legal and ethical standards, addressing issues proactively.
Community Engagement: Support the team to build and maintain partnerships with local organisations, stakeholders, and volunteers to advance awareness and resources for animal welfare.
Oversight and Reporting: Regularly review welfare initiatives’ effectiveness, providing transparent reports to the board and stakeholders.

What are we looking for?

Role Specific Experience and Skills

Proven experience in animal welfare, veterinary, or a related field.
Strong strategic and decision-making abilities, ideally with previous trustee or board experience.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, capable of engaging with diverse community members and organisations.
Committed to the mission and values of animal welfare advocacy.

General Trustee Skills:

To be familiar with and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
To work in conjunction with your fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
Ensure the branch meets all the minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS). Where they are not met, work with national RSPCA staff to meet the standard as soon as practicable.
In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch Partnership Manager write, adopt, monitor & review a branch development plan setting out the short and long term aims of your branch.
To actively participate in branch committee meetings and to attend the branch annual general meeting.
To attend the trustee training course.
Where applicable and in conjunction with your fellow trustees, ensure the proper management and control of all activities and decisions relating to any premises held or staff employed by the branch.
To act at all times as a good ambassador for the branch and the society.

What difference will you make?

As a trustee focusing on animal welfare, your work will have a lasting impact on both the animals we care for and the broader community. By leading policy and advocacy efforts, you’ll drive improvements that enhance animal well-being, support vulnerable animals, and strengthen our community partnerships. Your contributions will ensure that every initiative reflects our commitment to compassionate care, making a positive, measurable difference for animals in need.

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach in the first instance. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete our additional application form.

Please contact us via Reach if you have any questions.

About RSPCA Canterbury & District Branch

Causes

Animals / wildlife

Organisation type:

Charity

Our objective is simple:

We work to prevent cruelty, promote kindness towards and alleviate suffering of animals by all lawful means, with a particular focus on animals within the...