Reception support
You will welcome all visitors to the site and provide a helpful reception service to visitors, volunteers and staff.
Key times are between 8-9am and 5-6:30pm Monday to Friday, dependent on the local office.
- Welcoming visitors. This may include volunteer Boarders when they arrive to drop off and pick up dogs in the morning and evening
- Being aware of the fire evacuation procedures and having knowledge of where the first aid box is located
- Passing on details of any messages to the appropriate member of staff in a timely manner
- Undertaking admin tasks as may be required from time to time e.g. handling incoming and outgoing mail or booking meeting rooms
- At some sites - to open up the office at the agreed time each morning
- At some sites - to lock up and secure the office at the end of the day ensuring windows are closed and lights and power are turned off
- Provide basic care for dogs (e.g. toileting and providing water) as required
- Local Guide Dogs Training School
- Reliability and punctuality
- Able to work independently using own initiative
- Friendly with good interpersonal skills
- Able to work in an environment with dogs
- Able and willing to undertake any training relevant to the role
- Basic dog handling skills are desirable but training will be given
- Support Guide Dogs to provide guide dogs and other mobility services that enable blind and partially-sighted people to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else
- An understanding of how the different parts of Guide Dogs work
- An opportunity to build experience for your CV
- Regular and ongoing support from your supervisor
- Payment of all out of pocket expenses
- Basic induction to Guide Dogs and to the role
- Not for this volunteer role
- 18 years
Meet one of our existing reception supporters
I feel like I have earned my weekend off and I enjoy having responsibility again"
Eddie
Eddie is a guide dog owner and has been volunteering with the Belfast team for six years.
"After completing a computing course a friend suggested that I think about using my newly found skills by volunteering. I hadn’t worked for over 14 years and I missed the contact with other adults, so I contacted the Belfast Guide Dogs team to see if I could help out. That was six years ago and now I volunteer at Guide Dogs three days a week. I feel like I have earned my weekend off and I enjoy having responsibility again.
My role mainly consists of answering the phone, passing on messages to the staff, ordering dog equipment and dealing with general enquiries. I also sometimes help out the fundraising department by talking to our clients about flag days and sponsored events."
