How We Help
We keep the process simple.
If you are an animal welfare organisation, all you need to do is complete the support request form, telling us about your main priority and we will do our very best to help you. Some of the ways we can help are outlined in more detail below. (Regrettably, as at 1st September 2023 we are not taking on any new clients at this time as we are overwhelmed with requests)
Digital Marketing, Websites, Branding.
One of the growing issues for animal charities throughout the UK is not having anyone to help with digital marketing. So what is digital marketing? In simple terms, it's the use of the internet and associated technology to support current marketing practices. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Mailchimp etc. are all examples you're probably aware of.
Charity Buddy volunteers can help develop your online presence to help you engage support and provide recognition of your organisation.
If you haven't got a website, we can help you build one. We can also help with SEO (helping you to be found on search engines such as Google), both organically, and through the use of paid for Google advertising options. Maybe you’ve got a Google Ads Grant but are not sure how to use it?
If you'd like help with the development of your brand so that people recognise your posts, campaigns, adverts and alike, we can assist you with that too!
Online Forms and Processes
Do you find yourself emailing, posting or giving out forms for people to complete and return? It's much easier and efficient to use online forms that people can complete using their laptops, tablets or phones. Online forms can be created to simplify the process of handling applications from volunteers, rehomers, sponsors, and for gift aid and merchanidise processing.
Online processes reduce the number of times people forget to return forms or get sidetracked. They are also a great way of recording the information you need, saving you time. You can also be notified when a form is sent to you, giving you a gentle reminder to take action.
Privacy notices that enable you to be legally compliant under data protection legislation can also be incorporated into your forms.
Home Checks and Transportation Services
In our opinion, the most critical aspect of rehoming a rescued animal is ensuring that s/he is placed with an appropriate new home.
We accept that nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, but we have found a wonderful organisation that specialises in providing these services to charities and non-profit rehomers.
If you need to access a national network of home checkers to help you widen the options of homes to your rescues, or need help with transport to fosters please get in touch!
Grants and Fundraising
It can take time to plan and prepare to make grant applications.
Do you know which charitable trusts are most likely to help you? Have you prepared all of the information that you will need in order to make an application? Are your accounts up to date?
Grant applications usually have deadlines for applications. We can help you to plan for achieving these deadlines.
Are you claiming gift aid? Do your fundraising activities generate the most income possible? Are the transaction costs of processing payments as low as they could be?
We can offer practical support to help you make the most of your existing fundraising plans, and hopefully help you to reduce your costs!
Please note that due to the high demand for fundraising support, we do not supply volunteers to undertake day to day fundraising activities on your behalf, but our fundraising consultant can discuss your plans and ideas with you.
Human Resources
Do you employ staff? Do you engage self employed workers? Do you offer apprenticeships?
If so, we can help you with producing appropriate employment contracts, contracts for services and general HR support. This can range from the very basic general administration to handling wages and dealing with appropriate pay rates and entitlements. If you're a registered charity with 250 staff or less, we can also introduce you to an organisation that can offer you heavily discounted HR Management Software.
Whatever your people-related issues are, we are happy to talk them through with you.
GDPR and Data Protection
If you are handling people's personal information, you will need to operate within the current UK legal framework. Data protection, and more recently GDPR legislation should be adhered to when processing information about people.
It may be time to review your forms, the information you process, and how you store your information, to ensure you stay within the law. You should have a privacy policy and you also need to ensure that any marketing campaigns are undertaken without breaching peoples privacy rights.
Creative Services
Increasingly we are being asked for artwork and illustrations that are being used in a range of applications. Our creative volunteers have produced digital drawings, sketches, caricatures, images for websites, fine art, and artists impressions to support business cases for animal welfare improvement projects.
Shelter Management Software
If you need help to keep on top of donations, volunteers, supporters, and adopters, we are familiar with an easy-to-use, affordable software package, that can deliver this for you.
The social enterprise that has developed this fantastic software can offer you a demonstration of the system which is capable of managing all aspects of your rescue centre or sanctuary from initial entry to rehoming. Contact us for more detailed information and a demonstration!
Got a Question or Need Something Else?
Maybe you don’t see something listed here that you need. Don’t worry. We have been asked for all kinds of help. Essentially, Charity Buddy sources volunteers with a wide range of skills, experience, and talent to help animal welfare organisations.
If you want to ask us a question about something please contact us.