“Volunteers
don’t get paid, not becaus
e they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”
Sherry
Anderson
A short while ago, I (Aimee, Project Lead) published two Volunteer vacancies on Reach Volunteering (Gracie's Way | Reach Volunteering) and shared information about them on Instagram (@GraciesWayUK). In all honesty, there hasn’t been as much interest as I had hoped for, so, my communications and marketing brain has been trying to figure out why. I can only think of two possible reasons: the first being that the roles just aren’t publicised widely enough and the project hasn’t been heard of enough (which I’ve tried to change via my BBC radio appearance – which you can listen to: youtube.com/@aimes_wilson/videos), and the second reason is that perhaps I haven’t provided enough information about the positions. With the BBC appearance done, I’ve chosen to conquer the second reason with this content which will not only include more details on each of the roles – which has become even more vital as we’re now recruiting five roles – but also, reasons why Volunteers are so important, what you can gain by volunteering, and advice on applying. So, read on to feel more encouraged and informed in deciding to apply to join the Gracie’s Way team…
Why Does Gracie’s Way Need Volunteers?
I began creating Gracie’s Way after finding my
bunny; Gracie dead in November 2025 and despite having a successful mental
health blog (www.imnotdisordered.co.uk)
I didn’t imagine this little pet bereavement project becoming such a huge
workload that I’d need to recruit an entire team to support me!
To evidence the workload in a bid to improve how
prepared applicants feel, here are the key statistics:
·
The website has over 34,000 views
·
The project has received hundreds of
requests for copies of the resources
·
The Instagram has over 220 followers
·
The Instagram account has over 6,000
monthly views
·
There’s been over 190 comments on
Instagram
·
The Project has had over 1,000 likes on
the Instagram content
Now, not only do I recognise the time and energy
being demanded by the Project’s growing success and popularity, but I also know
that there might be people out there who are more qualified and skilled than I
am in some of the areas that I feel are now demanding recruitment. And I
realise that those areas are actually really fundamentally important to
Gracie’s Way achieving its goals and mission in helping bereaved owners to
never feel alone and raising awareness amongst the general public to encourage
more validating and kind responses to those grieving.
Why Volunteer for Gracie’s Way?
1. Make
a difference
2. Personal
growth e.g. building confidence, developing empathy, and listening skills
3. Professional
development
4. Gaining
a sense of community and connection
5. Wellbeing
improvements e.g. discovering a sense of purpose and increasing self-esteem
6. Additional
opportunities through networking
7. Learning
opportunities
Advice for Applying
Gracie’s Way requests that you include a cover
letter with your Reach application, here’s some advice on writing it:
1. Explain
why Gracie’s Way and pet bereavement generally, matter to you
2. Mention
the specific skills listed in the descriptions
3. Include
examples of you illustrating that you have these skills
4. Share
any ideas you may already have for what you’d like to do with the role
5. Be
yourself!
3 Useful Links
7
Steps To Writing a Volunteer Cover Letter (With Example) | Indeed.com UK
Volunteer
Cover Letter Examples (Writing Guide) | 2026
How
to include volunteer experience on a CV (With examples) | Indeed.com UK
Job Description: Content Creator
About
the Role
We are seeking a creative, empathetic, and
enthusiastic Content Creator Volunteer to help raise awareness of
Gracie's Way and strengthen our online presence through meaningful digital
content. This is a flexible volunteer opportunity that can be completed
remotely and fitted around your existing commitments, making it ideal for someone
who wants to use their creativity to support an important cause.
Key
Responsibilities
As a Content Creator Volunteer, you will contribute
to the creation of engaging and sensitive content across our digital platforms.
Your responsibilities may include:
- Creating
content for Gracie's Way's Instagram account.
- Writing
engaging captions, website articles, and other written content.
- Helping
to plan and schedule future content.
- Supporting
awareness campaigns, remembrance initiatives, and educational resources.
- Assisting
with press releases and maintaining a press contact list.
How
You'll Make a Difference
As an early-stage project, every volunteer plays an
important role in shaping the future of Gracie's Way. Your work will help us increased
awareness of pet bereavement, reach more people who may benefit from our
support, and communicate our mission with compassion and authenticity.
You'll have the opportunity to make a genuine
impact while helping us grow a supportive online community for bereaved pet
owners and those who care for them.
What
We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is:
- Creative
and enjoys producing engaging content.
- Compassionate
and sensitive when discussing grief and bereavement.
- A
confident communicator with good written English.
- Organised
and able to manage their own workload.
- Open
to collaboration and contributing new ideas.
- Passionate
about supporting a meaningful charitable project.
Previous experience in content creation, social
media, communications, or marketing is welcomed but is not essential. We value
kindness, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn just as much as experience.
Deliverables
Depending on your interests, availability, and
experience, you may contribute towards:
- An
agreed number of social media posts.
- Ideas
for campaigns, awareness events, and content themes.
- Developing
a consistent and compassionate brand voice.
- Contributing
to communications or strategy documents.
- Creating
simple graphics, reels, or other visual content where appropriate.
Links:
For more info on the website: Content
Creator Volunteer | Gracie's Way
To apply: Content
Creator Volunteer | Reach Volunteering
Job Description: Fundraising Officer
About
the Role
This is a flexible, remote volunteer opportunity
requiring approximately 3–7 hours per week, making it suitable for
someone who wants to use their fundraising skills to support a meaningful cause
alongside existing commitments.
Working closely with the Project Lead, you will
help identify and pursue funding opportunities that align with Gracie's Way's
mission. Whether you already have experience in fundraising or transferable
skills from another sector, you'll play a key role in helping us build a
sustainable future.
Key
Responsibilities
As our Fundraising Officer Volunteer, you may:
- Research
grant, trust, and foundation funding opportunities.
- Support
the preparation and submission of funding applications.
- Identify
corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
- Develop
ideas for community and online fundraising campaigns.
- Help
create compelling funding materials and supporting documents.
- Maintain
records of funding opportunities, applications, and outcomes.
- Contribute
ideas to the project's long-term fundraising strategy.
You won't be expected to fundraise alone—you'll
work collaboratively with the Project Lead and wider volunteer team.
What
We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is passionate about
making a meaningful difference and helping a growing charity project achieve
long-term sustainability.
Experience in one or more of the following would be
beneficial:
- Grant
or trust fundraising.
- Writing
funding applications or bids.
- Corporate
fundraising or sponsorship development.
- Community
or digital fundraising.
- Developing
fundraising strategies.
Most importantly, we're looking for someone with
excellent written communication skills, strong attention to detail, good
organisational skills, creativity, reliability, and the ability to work
independently while collaborating effectively with others.
How
You'll Make a Difference
As a volunteer-led project, Gracie's Way relies on
the expertise and generosity of volunteers to continue developing new resources
and reaching more bereaved pet owners. The funding you help secure will
directly support the creation of new educational materials, awareness
campaigns, partnerships with charities and professionals, and improvements to
our website and services.
Every successful funding application has the
potential to help thousands of people access compassionate, evidence-informed
support following the loss of a pet. Your work will play a vital role in
shaping the future of Gracie's Way and ensuring that our support remains free
and accessible to those who need it most.
Links:
For more info on the website: Fundraising
Officer | Gracie's Way
To apply: Fundraising
Officer | Reach Volunteering
Job Description: PR & Media Officer
About
the Role
This is a flexible, remote volunteer opportunity
requiring approximately 3–7 hours per week, making it ideal for someone with an
interest in public relations, journalism, communications, or media who wants to
make a meaningful difference.
Working closely with the Project Lead, you will
help promote Gracie's Way through local, regional, and national media, ensuring
that more bereaved pet owners, professionals, and potential supporters become
aware of the free support and resources we provide.
Key
Responsibilities
As our PR and Media Officer Volunteer, you may:
- Identify
opportunities to secure positive media coverage for Gracie's Way.
- Write,
edit, and distribute press releases to relevant media contacts.
- Build
and maintain relationships with journalists, broadcasters, and other
communications professionals.
- Respond
to media enquiries and support the Project Lead with interview
opportunities.
- Help
develop PR campaigns around awareness days, fundraising initiatives,
partnerships, and project milestones.
- Advise
on communications strategies to strengthen the project's visibility and
reputation.
- Monitor
media coverage and maintain records of publicity achieved.
What
We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is passionate about
using communications to create positive social impact.
Experience in one or more of the following would be
beneficial:
- Public
relations, journalism, or media.
- Communications
or marketing.
- Copywriting
and press release writing.
- Campaign
planning and delivery.
- Building
relationships with media professionals.
We're particularly interested in volunteers who
have excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organisational
abilities, creativity, confidence when networking, and the ability to work
independently while collaborating as part of a supportive team.
Experience working with charities or voluntary
organisations, knowledge of media monitoring, or an understanding of grief,
bereavement, mental health, or animal welfare is welcomed but not essential.
How
You'll Make a Difference
As a volunteer-led project, Gracie's Way relies on
raising awareness to ensure that people know support exists when they need it
most. Every piece of positive media coverage you help secure has the potential
to connect bereaved pet owners with compassionate, evidence-informed support
during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
Your work will help increase the visibility,
credibility, and reputation of Gracie's Way while promoting new campaigns,
resources, partnerships, and fundraising initiatives. By developing strong
relationships with journalists and media organisations, you'll help us reach
wider audiences and continue expanding the impact of the project.
Links:
For more info on the website: PR & Media
Officer | Gracie's Way
To apply: PR and Media
Officer | Reach Volunteering
Job Description: Research Volunteer
About
the Role
This is a flexible volunteer opportunity that can
largely be completed remotely and around your existing commitments. As a
Research Volunteer, you'll play an important role in identifying information,
opportunities, and resources that will support the growth and development of
Gracie's Way.
Working closely with the Project Lead, you'll help
ensure that our resources remain accurate, relevant, and valuable to the people
we support while contributing ideas that help shape the future direction of the
project.
Key
Responsibilities
As our Research Volunteer, you may:
- Research
pet bereavement support services, charities, community initiatives, and
wellbeing resources.
- Identify
useful information that could support grieving pet owners.
- Explore
potential partnerships, funding opportunities, awareness campaigns, and
relevant events.
- Gather
information for future guides, educational resources, website articles,
and social media content.
- Organise
research findings in a clear, structured, and accessible format for the
wider team.
What
We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is naturally curious,
organised, and enjoys finding reliable information that can make a positive
difference.
You don't need previous research experience to
apply. Instead, we're looking for volunteers who demonstrate:
- Strong
organisational and time management skills.
- Good
written communication and attention to detail.
- The
ability to research information thoroughly and present findings clearly.
- A
proactive approach and willingness to work independently.
- Curiosity,
empathy, and a genuine passion for supporting people through pet
bereavement.
Experience in research, education, healthcare,
charities, animal welfare, or communications would be beneficial but is not
essential.
How
You'll Make a Difference
As a small but growing project, Gracie's Way relies
on well-researched information to develop trusted resources and expand the
support we provide. Your work will help identify new opportunities, strengthen
the quality of our educational materials, and ensure that bereaved pet owners
can access accurate, compassionate, and evidence-informed guidance.
Every piece of research you complete has the
potential to influence future resources, awareness campaigns, partnerships, and
project development, helping us reach and support more people experiencing the
loss of a beloved pet.
Deliverables
Depending on the project's needs, you may
contribute:
- Research
summaries and resource lists.
- Recommendations
for useful organisations, services, and partnership opportunities.
- Information
to support future content, awareness campaigns, and educational resources.
- Research
that informs new ideas, initiatives, and long-term project development.
Links:
For more info on the website: Research
Volunteer | Gracie's Way
To apply: Research
Volunteer | Reach Volunteering
Job Description: Training &
Education Coordinator
About
the Role
This is a flexible, remote volunteer opportunity
requiring approximately 3–7 hours per week, making it ideal for someone
with an interest in education, training, learning design, or project
coordination.
Working closely with the Project Lead, you will
help shape and develop Gracie's Way's educational offering for professionals,
volunteers, and organisations. Your work will ensure that our training
resources are engaging, evidence-informed, accessible, and responsive to the
needs of those supporting people through pet bereavement.
Key
Responsibilities
As our Training and Education Coordinator
Volunteer, you may:
- Support
the development, review, and continuous improvement of training materials,
presentations, and learning resources.
- Help
coordinate the planning and delivery of online and in-person training
sessions.
- Research
current evidence, best practice, and guidance relating to pet bereavement,
grief, mental health, and trauma-informed care.
- Organise
training schedules, resources, and participant information.
- Gather
and review feedback from learners to help improve future training.
- Identify
opportunities to develop new educational resources and training topics.
- Work
collaboratively with the Project Lead and other volunteers to ensure all
learning materials remain accurate, relevant, and evidence-informed.
What
We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about
education and believes that increasing knowledge and understanding can improve
the support available to bereaved pet owners.
Experience in one or more of the following would be
beneficial:
- Education,
training, or learning and development.
- Instructional
design or curriculum development.
- Project
or programme coordination.
- Service
design or learning resource development.
- Delivering
workshops or educational sessions.
We're particularly interested in volunteers who
have excellent organisational and communication skills, strong attention to
detail, the ability to manage multiple tasks, and a collaborative approach.
Confidence using Microsoft Office or Google Workspace would be beneficial,
along with a willingness to learn and develop new skills.
Experience in grief, bereavement, mental health,
trauma-informed practice, or animal welfare is welcomed but is not essential.
How
You'll Make a Difference
Education plays a vital role in improving how
bereaved pet owners are supported. By helping Gracie's Way develop high-quality
training and educational resources, you'll contribute to increasing confidence,
knowledge, and compassion among professionals, volunteers, and organisations.
Your work will help ensure our learning materials
remain current, evidence-informed, and accessible while enabling the project to
expand its educational programme as demand grows. Every training resource you
help create has the potential to improve understanding, reduce stigma, and
equip others with the skills to provide compassionate support to people
experiencing pet bereavement.
Links:
For more info on the website: Training
& Education Coordinator | Gracie's Way
To apply: Training
and Education Coordinator | Reach Volunteering
What Happens Next?
For accessibility, if your cover letter and CV are appropriate,
you’ll be offered to choose between the opportunity to have an informal chat
with Project Lead; Aimee via Teams or receiving the questions you’d be asked at
the chat and answering them via email instead.
Please also note, your application may be shared
with other members of the Gracie’s Way team.
If you have any questions, please contact the
project on: gracieswayuk@outlook.com
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