Volunteer Educator – Foster Carer & Children’s Education Initiative job at Chester-le-Street Full Time NEW

Job Overview
We are launching an exciting new education programme designed to support foster carers and children in care across our local area. This initiative focuses on responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, and building safe and positive relationships between young people and animals.

To deliver this programme, we are seeking five enthusiastic Volunteer Educators to join our team. You will play a key part in helping vulnerable children and the foster families who support them, using education to create safer, more compassionate environments for both people and animals.

This is a vital, rewarding volunteer role where you will represent our small, local RSPCA branch and help bring high-quality animal welfare education to the community.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging, interactive training sessions to foster carers and children in care, using our new education toolkit.
• Promote responsible pet ownership, animal behaviour awareness, and welfare understanding in a way that is accessible and age-appropriate.
• Attend training sessions provided by the RSPCA local branch to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of the programme.
• Maintain a friendly, respectful, and supportive atmosphere during all sessions.
• Follow safeguarding protocols, confidentiality requirements, and RSPCA best practice guidance.
• Help set up and tidy learning spaces where needed.
• Represent RSPCA Sunderland, Hartlepool & South Tyneside in a professional and positive manner.

Person SpecificationEssential

• Confident speaking to groups of adults and/or children.
• Comfortable delivering a structured education programme (full training and resources provided).
• Reliable, organised, and able to attend scheduled training sessions and delivery days.
• A genuine passion for animal welfare, child safeguarding, and community support.
• Willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS Check (funded by the charity).
• Able to travel to local session venues (fuel and parking expenses reimbursed).

Desirable (but not required)

• Experience in teaching, youth work, social care, fostering, or similar education roles.
• Previous experience working with children or vulnerable groups.
• Basic understanding of animal behaviour or welfare (training will cover this).

Time Commitment

• Flexible. Volunteers can choose sessions they are available for.
• Sessions will run at various times across the year (morning or afternoon, weekdays or occasional weekends).
• We aim for volunteers to support at least one session every 6 months, though more is welcomed.

What We Provide

• Full training in programme delivery, safeguarding, and animal welfare content.
• Ongoing support from our project lead and education team.
• All teaching materials, lesson plans, and resources.
• Reimbursement of reasonable expenses (fuel, parking, mileage, etc.).
• Experience working with a respected local charity and opportunities to develop skills in teaching, communication, and community engagement.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of animals, foster families and children in care.

How to Apply

If you would like to become part of this new and impactful project, please send your CV to:

RSPCA Sunderland, Hartlepool & South Tyneside

[email protected]

We will be delighted to provide more information and begin the volunteer recruitment process.

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Store discount

Work Location: In person