Diane Stacey
How did you start working with Cats Protection?
In 2002, shortly after retiring from teaching, I received a flyer through the post asking for volunteers to help support a new branch of Cats Protection which was opening a store in Plymouth. I have lived in Plymouth nearly all my life and decided I would like to support a local charity so I joined the fundraising arm. Then, as is often the nature with voluntary work, I soon became involved in all areas of the charity.
How much training is involved, what qualifications or experience do you need?
Cats Protection employs a wide variety of people from cat care assistants, accountants, shop managers to fundraisers, requiring a variety of qualifications. For our voluntary roles I think it is more important to have wide experience of interacting with people and an interest in helping vulnerable animals. I trained as a teacher and after an initial two years at West Park Infants, married and moved to Bath where I taught a challenging social mix of pupils in the coal-mining town of Midsomer Norton, later moving to Belgium teaching English to foreign students.
How long have you worked with Cats Protection?
I started volunteering for the charity in 2002 and in 2009 I became the coordinator for the Plymouth and District branch. My district covers a large swathe of Devon including Ivybridge, Tavistock and Bere Alston. There are currently 12 foster homes in our district as well as a large adoption centre in Exeter.
What is involved in working with Cats Protection?
As coordinator for the Plymouth and District branch I have responsibility for all aspects of the charity including welfare, fundraising and recruitment. It is not unlike running a small business as I manage 40 dedicated volunteers, including a small group or people who run a stall at Tavistock market selling books and bric-a-brac to raise funds. The group also takes part in the Tavistock Carnival and Meavy Oak Fair, and some members open their gardens for the charity. Over 162,000 cats are neutered through the Cats Protection UK programme each year – often with financial support from the charity and local veterinary centres such as Drake Vets, which works very closely with our local branch.
What would you say to someone thinking of working in animal protection?
Cats Protection helps around 200,000 cats every year through its national network of 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 adoption and homing centres. It educates and informs through publications, and social media as well as a national helpline. It promotes the importance of neutering, reunites lost cats with their owners and finds new homes for thousands of unwanted cats. With around 9,800 volunteers across the UK there are a myriad of roles within the charity from fostering, working in shops and centres, rehoming and welfare as well as helping to trap feral cats and assist with neutering projects. We always need volunteers and it’s a great way to find out more about our work.
What is the best thing about your role?
I only have one cat myself and she arrived by a happy accident, but I find it incredibly fulfilling working with my fellow volunteers to save countless cats in need and give them the chance of a good home.
If you are interested in learning more please contact the Plymouth and District Cats Protection branch on 03453 712753 or visit www.plymouth.cats.org.uk