Volunteering at Green Paws Animal Shelter
You would like to volunteer at Green Paws Animal Shelter in Leeds this summer. Their website says:
- Volunteers must be 16 or older on their first shift.
- A tetanus vaccination in the last ten years is required.
- Closed shoes and long trousers; no jewellery except a plain wedding ring.
- New volunteers must attend an induction: Saturday 5 July or Saturday 2 August, both at 09:00.
- Shifts are 09:00–13:00 and volunteers do at least four shifts.
- The application form asks for your name, date of birth, an emergency contact, and the name of one reference who is not a family member.
- Applications close on 15 June.
Your details: you are 15 now and your birthday is 3 July. The summer holiday starts on 12 July. You are camping with your family from 1 to 10 August. You wear a small nose stud. You cannot remember when you last had a tetanus injection.
1. Can you do your first volunteer shift in the first week of the summer holiday? Check each rule one by one.
Read the worked answer
Yes - but only if you plan it properly.
- Age 16 on the first shift: you turn 16 on 3 July, and the holiday starts on 12 July, so on your first shift you are 16. The rule is about the first shift, not about the application date - so you can apply now, while you are still 15.
- Induction: 2 August falls inside the camping trip (1–10 August), so 5 July is your only option. It is two days after your birthday and a week before the holiday starts.
- Tetanus: you do not know, so you cannot honestly tick 'yes'. You must find out before you send the form.
- Nose stud: jewellery is not allowed, so it has to come out before your first shift.
- Four shifts of 09:00–13:00: fine in the weeks of 14 July and 21 July, but not between 1 and 10 August.
One no answer kills the application, so every rule has to be checked, not just the age.
2. What must you arrange before 15 June, and who or what can help you with each thing?
Read the worked answer
- Your tetanus date - ask your mother to look in your vaccination record, or ring the GP. Do this first, because it is the only thing you cannot do yourself and it could take days.
- A reference who is not family - ask your football coach. Do it in person and early, so he has time to say yes.
- An emergency contact - your mother, with her phone number.
- The 5 July induction - write the date down and tell your family, because it is before the holiday officially starts.
- Your nose stud - decide now that it comes out; it is not an application problem but it will stop you working.
- Send the form before 15 June - the deadline is fixed and late applications are not read.
3. The form asks for an emergency contact and for one reference. Choose two people from this list and explain why you reject the other two: your mother, your football coach, your cousin (19), your best friend (16).
Read the worked answer
- Emergency contact: your mother. An emergency contact must be an adult who can be reached quickly and who is responsible for you. She is the obvious and correct choice.
- Reference: your football coach. The rule says 'not a family member'. A coach is an adult who has seen you turn up every week, work in a team and follow instructions - exactly what a shelter wants to hear.
Rejected - your cousin (19): a cousin is family, so the rule rules her out, however sensible she is. Rejected - your best friend (16): a friend of your own age cannot be a reference. She is not in a position of responsibility over you and the shelter will not take it seriously. The rule is not about who likes you most; it is about who can vouch for you as a worker.