How to volunteer

What we do wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers. Find out how you can start volunteering today.

There are lots of great reasons to volunteer with the YRKC. You may already be passionate about what we do and want to give something back, or you might enjoy sharing your knowledge and experience with the next generation of dog lovers.

Volunteering is a great way to build skills and experience, boost your confidence, meet like-minded people and discover a new interest - all while strengthening your CV.

Whatever motivates you, volunteering with the YRKC is a rewarding way to make a difference. You’ll know that your time, skills and enthusiasm are helping to inspire the next generation of young dog enthusiasts.

How do I become a volunteer?

Express your interest in volunteering - Email us with your contact information and a brief overview about who you are.

We’ll be in touch

A member of the YRKC team will be in touch, and they will give you more information about volunteering opportunities and what’s available throughout the year. Then they’ll help to arrange the next steps

Getting started as a volunteer

Getting started

Welcome to the YRKC volunteering and we hope you find the information interesting and it’s great news you are thinking of joining us!

Express your interest in volunteering - Email us with your contact information and a brief overview about who you are. A member of the YRKC team will be in touch, to give you more information about volunteering opportunities, what’s available throughout the year and help arrange the next steps.

Recruitment checks

When volunteering for the YRKC you will be asked to complete the recruitment checks relevant to the event and role. We want to make sure all of our YRKC members are safe in the company of our staff and volunteers, this means we will be asking all prospective volunteers to undergo a basic DBS check through the government website.

Learning and development

As a YRKC volunteer we support you in your role and your personal development. Volunteer training will include areas covering - safe guarding, ring management, event planning and more…

Also YRKC volunteers aged 18-24 years can apply for the learning development team building course : Outward Bound. Each week-long course is designed to build confidence, resilience, and essential life skills that volunteers can take with them to our events and the outside world.

Opportunities

YRKC Crufts Ring Party

The YRKC has its own competitions finals at Crufts in our very own YRKC ring. YRKC volunteers aged 18 + years will help with a variety of roles and responsibilities in helping the team run the ring over the four days. Roles can include - stewarding, competitor check-in, press team, competition results, awards and presentations. This is an exciting opportunity and to learn new skills, to work as part of a team at one of the biggest dog events in the world alongside an experienced team.

YRKC Crufts Commentating

Do you have a passion for dogs and enjoy talking to an audience? YRKC volunteers aged 18 + years provide live commentary in the YRKC ring at Crufts. This is a fantastic role to help create an exciting and welcoming atmosphere for competitors, spectators and their dogs. The role is to provide interesting commentary throughout the competition. No professional commentary is needed but knowledge in one of the chosen dog competitions, enthusiasm, confidence and love of dogs!

Trainers

Training young handlers is a unique skill, and we require trainers with expertise and confidence in all of the different canine activities. YRKC volunteers aged 18 + years can help train the next generation of YRKC members, helping young handlers build confidence, gain new skills and compete. The YRKC covers many dog disciplines, and YRKC volunteers help to train the next generation at our own events.

Events

We hold a variety of YRKC events - that can be a day experience, weekend or week. These events can be a dog discipline training day to a weekend training, educational workshops and competition day/s. These can include social events and team games. YRKC volunteers aged 18 + years can help in a variety of roles to run the events - these can include trainers, team leaders, assisting the day/s, stewarding and many more.

Team Leaders

One of our most popular volunteer schemes, open to those YRKC volunteers 18 + years. The role involves mentoring a group of YRKC members and encouraging them throughout their dog training experience. If you are energetic, enthusiastic and enjoy working with young handlers, we need you. The role can also involve leading the team in a variety of challenges at the event - team games, fun competitions and fun social events.

Judging

If you are on a Royal Kennel Club judging list, you can offer to judge at a Young Kennel Club qualifier or final. The club likes to offer younger, newer judges the experience of judging to set you off on your judging career.

Questions you may have

Can I claim expenses?

As a YRKC volunteer, expenses can be claimed to assist you in your volunteering role.

Expenses can cover - travel cost, accommodation and catering cost depending on each event.

How do I know what roles may suit me?

Once you have joined the YRKC volunteering team you will meet YRKC staff who will chat and work with you to discover which roles will aid you in developing the skills you would like to learn.

Who will support me in my volunteering role?

All YRKC volunteers are supported by YRKC staff and also YRKC volunteers who have been with the team will mentor new volunteers and support them.