With a wide variety of volunteering opportunities with Rosie’s Trust on offer, the charity’s Volunteer Support Officer, Molly Finlay, shares an insight into her new role, and what to expect if you sign-up.
If you’re interested in volunteering with Rosie’s Trust, please email mail@rosiestrust.org and a member of the team will be in touch with details on current opportunities.
For starters, can you tell us how long you have worked at Rosie’s Trust, and about your role as Volunteer Support Officer?
I have worked for Rosie’s Trust for just over a month and a half, and in my role as the Volunteer Support Officer, I handle anything related to the recruitment, training and support of Rosie’s Trust volunteers. Despite only being with the charity for a short period of time, I have already experienced the transition from welcoming a volunteer at the initial interview, to seeing them matched-up and out walking, which is lovely to be a part of. The volunteers are very much at the centre of Rosie’s Trust, and we couldn’t operate without them, so it’s been a privilege for me to meet so many of the lovely people who dedicate their time to us.
What have you enjoyed most about working with the volunteers so far?
Rosie’s Trust has two of my favourite things – dogs and dog people, so it’s a wonderful environment to work in from that respect. I would say I enjoy getting a chat with the volunteers the most, and hearing about their walks, or their own pets at home. I could talk all day about my dogs, Aggie and Mavis, so it’s great to be a part of a team of people who all do the exact same thing! One of my favourite questions to ask in an interview when someone tells me they have a pet is “what’s their name?” And I love to hear all the anecdotes that come after that.
The charity is currently recruiting Events Volunteers. For new volunteers, can you tell us what they can expect if they sign-up?
It’s an opportunity for people to support Rosie’s Trust who don’t have the time to volunteer every week, but who love what we do and really want to help. The Events Volunteer role is more flexible, and if you can only spare a few hours every now and again it still makes all the difference to us, and the money and awareness that we can raise. The number one thing people say when the sign up to be a Rosie’s Trust Volunteer is that they want to help people and pets, and by supporting us in any capacity, you are doing exactly that. Our Events Volunteers should expect to feel that they are making a difference too. As someone who volunteered with charities myself, I know it is also a great opportunity to meet new people and form lasting friendships, and the experience I gained volunteering lead me into the job I have today, so for anyone who wanted to work in the charity sector it could be a great opportunity to learn valuable skills as well.
What are the benefits of volunteering with Rosie’s Trust, and why would you recommend it?
There are so many benefits to volunteering in general, whether it’s for your mental or physical health, or your personal feelings of achievement, knowing that you are making a positive impact on the world, but I think there is definitely something special about volunteering with Rosie’s Trust and being part of a team that all care so much about keeping people and pets together. Even from my experience coming in as a new member of staff, I realised right away that there was so much support available, not just from the staff team, but from all of our dedicated volunteers as well.
Outside of work, how do you like to spend your spare time?
I love nothing more than the look on Aggie and Mavis’ faces when you pick up their leads, so getting them out in a forest or up a mountain has to be one of my favourite ways to spend my spare time. That, or snuggling up with them on the sofa! I think almost everyone involved with Rosie’s Trust has experienced that connection with a pet, and it really shows in the dedication of the staff and volunteers.
Could you be an Events Volunteer for Rosie’s Trust? If you would like more info on this role, and other current volunteering opportunities, please email mail@rosiestrust.org
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