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Whilst we are slow at getting new volunteers started on the main yard with direct care of the animals in mind, we are actively searching for volunteers to assist with admin, fundraising, events, maintenance, publicity, press, and even photography!
Get your hands dirty!
You can help to make a real difference to the lives of the animals in our care and enhance the experience for volunteers and visitors! For those who have skills and experience it is a great opportunity for us to open up some skill sharing!
We need volunteers for;
Maintenance With over 150 animals on site annually on average, the sanctuary gets a lot of wear and tear. This is why we need maintenance volunteers who are willing to come in and undertake DIY and associated tasks, such as sweeping the yard, strimming weeds, power washing, and cleaning the windows, doing runs to the dump etc. This role includes some of the following responsibilities:
Weeding / gardening
Hedge trimming
Strimming
Power washing
Repairs
and more...
Not all will appeal to everyone - or be suitable for everyone but if you think you can help out in a physical capacity it will be very welcome!
Transport
Transport plays a huge part in the welfare of our animals both new and current. With your help, the animals are one step closer to retrieving the necessary care that is only possible with use of a vehicle - attending a vet, delivering life saving medication, aiding in the pick-ups of newly reported strays or abandoned pets.
Something you take for granted every day, could actually be the life-altering need for another. In this case, our many dependent animals in care. Role includes some of the following responsibilities:
For vet runs
To collect animals.
To collect medicine, food or donations.
Sign up and we will add you to the volunteer group that suits you. Then when we need help you'll get a notification and if you are free and able to help, you can raise your hand!
No set hours or commitment - help when and where you can!
Volunteer from your sofa!
We are currently advertising for;
Press / Media Assistant As a Press / Media assistant you will be required to represent the sanctuary to the media, both reactive and proactively. You will respond to enquiries from journalists, write press releases, try to interest journalists in our stories and campaigns, arrange for spokespeople to speak to the press or speak to them directly yourself, and monitor media coverage.
You will help us raise awareness of the work we do, help animals get the help they need or raise awareness of the different welfare issues the sanctuary is facing. You will assist with promoting fundraising, events and rehoming stories; helping us raise funds and find homes for the animals in our care.
Role includes some of the following responsibilities:
Write for the Crosskennan website and social media pages
Respond to Media enquiries, correspond with journalists
Write press releases
Gain interest from Journalists to write about Crosskennan stories, work and potential features.
and much more...
Photography and media content assistant
As a Photography and media content assistant you will help us keep us up to date with our photo albums and our video content. Labelling images and videos and saving them to their respective folders and albums. This is two part as you can also assist with coming on site to photograph the residents and the animals looking for homes; helping us with appeals and publicity in the longer term.
Fundraising Volunteers
As a fundraising volunteer you will be help us raise much needed funds for the sanctuary; either through specific appeals, events or even just assisting with the admin side of fundraising (you know, the fun stuff!)
You will help us raise funds to help provide the animals we rescue with what they need - but more than that you will be essential in helping us keep our gates open! We are entirely funded by public donation so every penny is important to keep us going and make sure the animals who need help get exactly what they need!
Fundraising volunteers can be broken down into separate roles;
Grant Application Assistants
Help us source and write grant applications for funding - either for projects or costs. Work from home and on your own time. Most applications are submitted quarterly but our biggest issue is always getting the time to sit and apply to all that are available, meaning we need to focus on one specific and therefore potentially missing out on others!
Event Assistants
Help us plan and organise events, this can be big or small - including on occasion running an event on your own. From bag packs to Dinner Dances, Guided Tours to Quiz nights, Charity Auctions to online pet shows. There are so many different ways you can get involved with helping us create, organise, manage and run events that will help us raise awareness and funds!
Fundraising Admin Assistants
This is the fun one - the admin side of fundraising. For us this includes helping with monitoring fundraising activities, recording past fundraising activities, monitoring income from events and activities.
Including;
Keeping track of collection boxes and responding to requests for new collection boxes to be sent out or for full ones to be collected.
Keeping a track of Sponsors and sending out sponsor certificates and photos to new sponsors as well as assisting with the quarterly update from our sponsor animals.
To apply for any of these roles: Please send a short covering letter to volunteer@crosskennanlane.org.uk detailing your experience, fit with the role and why you want to volunteer with us.
Upon receipt of your application we will seek to arrange a short telephone/zoom interview or face-to-face meeting where we may ask for details.
Don't worry, we understand life doesn't always go to plan and whilst you may be able to help out this week, it doesn't necessarily mean this will be the same for the next.
We use WhatsApp for our different volunteer groups to keep in touch and be notified about volunteering opportunities; so if ever you have other commitments and you are unavailable to volunteer, please just let us know; equally if there is a job you can help with you can give us a shout!
Thank you as always for supporting, volunteering and in general being there to spread the word and helping us help the animals who need us. Without you we couldn't do any of this!
volunteer@crosskennanlane.org.uk
Help us to help them!
Please, CLICK here to Make a Donation (PAYPAL)!
Make a one off donation on our website CLICK HERE!
Or you can send a donation via bank transfer to
Sort Code: 950202
Account Number: 31184288
Account Name: CROSSKENNAN ANIMAL
If you want to get stuff delivered to us you post it directly to: Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary, 26 Crosskennan Lane, Ballynoe, Antrim, BT41 2QY
Or send us an email to crosskennan@hotmail.co.uk to arrange a drop-off of donations!
Did you know you can send grocery deliveries to us too? Just let us know in advance, and you can do a ASDA, Tesco's, Sainsbury's Online delivery and get it dropped off at the sanctuary. We can make use of so much from your local supermarket, from fresh fruit and veg, to frozen peas and sweetcorn, fresh chicken, ham, liver, washing up powder/tablets, dish soap, bleach, disinfectant, toilet rolls, dog food, cat food, birdseed... The list could go on forever!