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Become a Volunteer
Looking to make a difference for Britain’s wildlife? Based in the beautiful village of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, Tiggywinkles offers a unique and rewarding environment for volunteers of all backgrounds. As the UK’s busiest wildlife hospital, we give you the chance to work alongside a passionate team in a professional veterinary setting dedicated to rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating wild animals. Whether you're gaining hands-on experience for a future in animal care or simply want to support a cause close to your heart, volunteering with us is a truly meaningful way to give back. Explore the different volunteer roles available and find the one that’s right for you.
Volunteer Rescuers
Become a Wildlife Hero After Dark
Do you thrive on a challenge and want to make a real difference?
Tiggywinkles is calling on compassionate, dependable individuals to join our team of Volunteer Rescuers — especially those available during evenings and weekends, when many animals are most in need.
Every day and night, wildlife in distress needs urgent help – from injured foxes and orphaned badgers, to swans tangled in fishing line or deer struck by vehicles. As a Volunteer Rescuer, you’ll be a vital first responder, transporting these animals safely to our specialist
hospital in your own vehicle.
We’re Currently Recruiting:
- Night-Time & Weekend Rescuers
Live anywhere in Bucks, Berks or Oxon? Free on evenings or weekends?
You’re who we need most right now. - Daytime Rescuers
Available on weekday daytimes in Oxford, Abingdon, High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Bicester, Buckingham, Witney, or Woodstock? We’d also love to hear from you.
What You’ll Need:
- Be 21 or over
- Have a car with a hatchback or large boot (or a small van)
- Be able to provide two employment references
- Passion, patience, and a heart for wildlife
What We Provide:
- Full hands-on training in animal handling and transport, held onsite at Tiggywinkles
- All necessary equipment for rescues
- Ongoing support and guidance from our expert team
Whether you’re responding to a fox in a garden or helping a deer in the dark, your actions can save a life.
Ready to Rescue?
Take the first step and fill in our Rescuer Application Form
Become the reason a wild animal gets a second chance – especially when no one else is awake to help.
Volunteer Ambulance Driver
Love wildlife and want to make a real difference? Become a Volunteer Ambulance Driver for Tiggywinkles and help rescue sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals in your local area.
Using your own vehicle, you’ll play a vital role in collecting casualties and bringing them safely to our hospital for treatment. We’ll provide you with full training and the necessary equipment – so you’ll feel confident and prepared for every callout.
What you’ll need:
- To be 21 or older
- Access to your own vehicle
- Two employment or character references
- A calm, compassionate attitude and a genuine love of animals
Whether it’s a hedgehog caught in netting, an owl hit by a car, or a baby bird fallen from a nest, your time and kindness could save a life.
If you’re ready to help British wildlife on the front line of rescue, we’d love to hear from you.
Fill out our Ambulance Application Form
Volunteer Fosterers for Orphaned Juvenile Mammals
We’re looking for compassionate and committed Volunteer Fosterers to care for orphaned juvenile mammals — such as baby hedgehogs — in their own homes.
What’s involved:
- Providing round-the-clock care during baby season (April to October)
- Feeding juvenile mammals every 2–3 hours throughout the day (each session may take 15–30 minutes per group)
- Monitoring their health and wellbeing as they grow strong enough for rehabilitation
We’ll provide full training and support plus all necessary equipment and supplies.
Requirements:
- Availability during most daytime hours, 7 days a week, throughout baby season
- Aged 21 or over
- Able to provide two employment-based references
- Have your own transport to collect supplies and attend check-ins
If you have time, patience, and a love for wildlife, this could be the perfect role for you.
Ready to help? Please complete our Fostering Application Form and send it to mail@tiggywinkles.org.
Husbandry Volunteers
Are you passionate about wildlife and ready to get hands-on? We’re looking for dedicated Husbandry Volunteers to support our Hospital and Rehabilitation Enclosures one day per week — either Monday or Friday, 9am–5pm, for a minimum commitment of 6 months.
What the role involves:
- Cleaning cages and enclosures in our busy wildlife hospital
- Preparing and providing food for a wide variety of patients
- Cleaning, tidying, and carrying out seasonal maintenance in hospital areas (indoors and outdoors, in all weather)
- Washing and drying bedding, as well as sterilising bowls and utensils daily
Important things to know:
- This is fast-paced, physical work — efficiency is key to reducing stress for our wild patients
- Animals are minimally handled and not spoken to, to help maintain their natural behaviours for successful release back into the wild
- Strict health, safety, and biosecurity procedures must be followed at all times
To join the team, you must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Have up-to-date tetanus cover
- Provide two employment-based references (all placements are subject to satisfactory references)
- Be willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check (as we work with young people and vulnerable adults)
- Complete and pass free online safeguarding training
If you’re reliable, hard-working, and ready to support wildlife in recovery, we’d love to hear from you!
Interested? Please complete our Husbandry Application Form.and send it to mail@tiggywinkles.org.
Join our Visitor Centre Volunteer Team!
Are you passionate about wildlife and enjoy helping others? We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to support our Visitor Centre and help us create a fantastic experience for all our guests.
As a Visitor Centre Volunteer, you could get involved with:
- Maintaining the Centre Grounds: Light gardening, jet-washing paths, leaf blowing, cleaning windows, painting, and keeping our space looking its best.
- Kiosk Support: Serving teas, coffees, cakes, and friendly smiles to members of the public.
- Animal Talks: Sharing our animal residents’ stories with visitors when staff aren’t available.
- Gift Shop Assistance: Helping customers and handling sales in our on-site shop.
Volunteers must be 16 years or older.
If this sounds like a great fit for you, please complete our Visitor Centre Volunteer Application Form and email it to visitor@tiggywinkles.org. We’d love to hear from you!
Admin Team Volunteers
Do you have a friendly, professional manner and enjoy working in a busy environment? We’re looking for volunteers to support our dedicated reception team during weekday daytimes, helping us care for both people and wildlife.
What you’ll be doing:
- Welcoming members of the public at our casualty reception and handling telephone enquiries
- Booking in injured animals and coordinating their care
- Helping arrange rescues and ambulance pick-ups by liaising with volunteers and the public
- Providing general admin support, such as filing and record-keeping
- Keeping the reception area clean, tidy, and presentable
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has a caring and professional approach
- Is confident speaking on the phone
- Ideally has some office or customer service experience (not essential – full training provided)
- Pays close attention to detail and enjoys working as part of a team
If you’re organised, compassionate, and want to make a real difference behind the scenes, we’d love to hear from you!
Please fill in our Reception and Admin Volunteer Application form and send it to mail@tiggywinkles.org.
Evening Crew Volunteering
Friday & Thursday evenings, volunteering from 7-11pm (or 10pm in winter)
Tasks include:
- Booking in casualties as they arrive
- Dealing with the public in person and on the phone
- Answering emergency phone calls and arranging rescues
- Assisting with triage of animals on admittance
- Top ups around the hospital
You should be comfortable working independently. Full training is provided.
Sorry – no vacancies available at this time
Maintenance Volunteers
Do you enjoy hands-on tasks and making a real difference? We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to help keep our site safe, welcoming, and well-maintained for both wildlife and visitors.
Your tasks may include:
- Outdoor maintenance such as fence painting and general DIY jobs
- Supporting repairs and upkeep of aviaries and animal enclosures
- Helping maintain our beautiful grounds – mowing lawns, trimming hedges, tending borders, and litter picking
- Indoor redecoration, including prep work, small repairs, and painting
- Assisting with occasional small-scale projects
If you’re practical, enjoy working outdoors, and want to support wildlife care in a meaningful way, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us at mail@tiggywinkles.org
Work experience placements
Over 16 and looking to gain real-world, hands-on experience with animals? Join us for a work experience placement and get up close with some of Britain’s most iconic wild species. Find out more…
