Volunteer Co-ordinator - Bedfordshire

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the National Animal Welfare Trust’s team at our Location Centre as a Volunteer Coordinator.

You will be working for a charity that never stops caring for its animals and people. We believe every pet deserves a chance to thrive in a loving home. Across our four rescue and rehoming centres across the south of England, we care for homeless and unwanted cats, dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs - helping them find the families they’ve been waiting for.

Location:                NAWT Bedfordshire, Glebe Lane, Salford Road, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, MK17 8HZ

Hours:                            16 hours per week on a locally determined rota

Salary:                            £12.71 per hour

Closing Date:                  16th October 2026

About the role:

You will be responsible for the coordination, promotion, administration and development of volunteering across the Centre and our local charity shops where applicable, ensuring volunteering is well organised, inclusive, compliant and aligned with the operational needs of the charity, whilst providing an excellent volunteer experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Volunteer Coordination and Support:

• Act as the lead point of contact for all volunteering activity across centres and shops within the allocated area.
• Promote and advocate volunteering opportunities for the charity, supporting recruitment and engagement.
• Ensure volunteers receive appropriate inductions, role specific training and Health and Safety briefings.
• Provide ongoing support to volunteers, responding to day-to-day queries, concerns and requests.
• Manage volunteer rotas, availability, attendance and time sheets to support operational requirements.

Administration & Compliance:

• Maintain accurate and up to date volunteer records, including personal details, training, roles and hours.
• Ensure volunteering data is accurately captured, entered and monitored in relevant systems.
• Ensure volunteer policies, procedures and guidance are implemented consistently across all locations.

Working with Managers & Teams:

• Work closely with Centre Managers, Shop Managers and Supervisors to identify volunteering needs and develop suitable roles.
• Provide advice and guidance to staff on best practice in volunteer management.
• Support managers with volunteer performance, conduct and welfare matters when required.
• Encourage a positive and inclusive volunteering culture across teams

Development & Continuous Improvement:

• Contribute to the development and improvement of volunteering processes and systems.
• Share best practice and support the ongoing development of the charity’s volunteering approach.
• Keep knowledge up to date on volunteering trends, legislation and best practice.
• Assist with volunteer engagement activities, recognition initiatives and events.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Experience of dealing with the general public/volunteers and their enquiries.
• Experience of general administration tasks and event organisation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confident using Microsoft Office and basic database systems.
• Ability to be flexible and work as part of a team.
• A genuine passion for animal welfare.

Desirable:

• Experience working with animals, or in an animal-related environment.

Working Conditions:

• Uniform is provided
• Emotional resilience when dealing with sensitive or emotional situations.

So, if you are the kind of person who enjoys a busy and varied role, with an empathy for the aims of NAWT, this may be the job for you!

As part of our commitment to making NAWT a great place to work, we offer access to the following employee benefits:

• 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising to 38 days after 5 years of service (pro-rated for part time employees).
• Group Life Assurance
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.

We are an inclusive organisation and are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from the communities we work in. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit.

If you feel you have the right skills to be a successful Volunteer Coordinator at our Bedfordshire Centre, please send your CV with your cover letter outlining how your experience and interests connect to our position to Centre Manager, Claire Whittaker, at c.whittaker@nawt.org.uk.

Please note we are accepting applications on a rolling basis and may close the recruitment process for this role prior to the deadline, so early applications are encouraged. Unfortunately, we are only able to make contact with those applicants who will be invited to interview.