MEET THE TEAM

My name is Jan Roe, l have worked at Woodlands volunteering since 2016. I suffer from M.E. and needed something to help me feel useful in life.

Working with the hedgehogs gives me so much pleasure and l feel like l'm part of a really worthy cause. Once you get behind the scenes at Woodlands you realise what an enormous task it is to manage.

The staff and other volunteers have made my life feel complete. It's a wonderful, big, happy family environment where everyone works together as a team. I love being a part of it!

I have volunteered at Woodlands since October 2021, coming in on a Saturday morning to see to the cats is the highlight of my week! I also try to get in as much cat cuddling as possible on any days I have off work. Woodlands do incredible things for the animals in their care and being able to help them out is a dream come true for an animal lover like me, it’s the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

I work in legal accountancy 9-5 so being able to get away to Woodlands for a few hours a week is the best.

I started volunteering at Woodlands in April 2021. I came across the sanctuary when looking to rescue another cat after loosing my dear Soph at the start of lockdown and saw they took on volunteers to help out. I reserved not one but two fur babies who have made my home complete again, no home is complete without the pitter patter of kitty feet.

At woodlands I work with both the cats and hedgehogs which I really enjoy, I had never had any interaction or been close to a hedgehog before and now I clean, feed & weigh them and love learning all about them.

I do also work full time as Airline Cabin Crew and have been lucky to travel to some really amazing places over the 17yrs I have been in this job. Being furloughed it really has been my pleasure to be able to help out & do something different & I will continue with my volunteering role here as I absolutely love it

Hi I'm Hayley & I started volunteering at Woodlands just before lockdown began in 2020. It amazed me that even at such a difficult time, the staff & volunteers continued to do all they could to keep the sanctuary running so that animals could be rescued. I am so happy that I can now be a small part of that.

I love the time I spend at Woodlands & have met some wonderful people. I have always had pets & currently have two cats. Getting my fill of cats & kittens at Woodlands stops my little cat family at home getting out of hand!

My name is Sue, I have been volunteering at Woodlands for approx 1 year, so still a relatively newby. I live in Southport with my husband and one of my two daughters, along with our fur baby Finley the dog. I worked as a civil servant for many years and in 2021 I took early retirement. The question was, what do I do now? I had often driven past Woodlands and thought, "I want to work there if I ever give up work, and help those amazing people support the animals in their care", I was over the moon when my application was accepted. I work on the yard and am in my element interacting with the ponies, Dolly the donkey, the goats and of course all the feathered friends around the pond. It's a mucky job, but gives me so much satisfaction that I am helping in a small way. The people I have met are all like minded and are passionate about the support we give to both the animals and each other. We are like one big family. I am so lucky and thankful that I can play my part at woodlands.

I’m a relative new girl to Woodlands having started in June 2021. I’m primarily a cat cuddler (salary nil, job satisfaction off the scale!) but have also had the pleasure of releasing some hedgehogs into their new habitat on behalf of the sanctuary. I’ve honed my limited baking skills since starting too to help raise money at fundraising events.

It’s so rewarding when a cat goes to its new home, particularly when the new owners share updates of its progress. Seeing cats which may have been timid relax into their new surroundings really makes us smile.

I've been volunteering for just over two years now, started after I adopted my cat from Woodlands. I helped with fund raising and became a cat cuddler last September, which I love and I'm now doing homechecks as well.

I grew up surrounded by animals of all varieties and have always loved animals so getting involved with Woodlands was a no brainer, I love being part of the team as the work that Woodlands do is so special and it is a special place to be part of. I volunteer because I want to help animals all find a loving home and get the help and support they need to get there, if I can just play a small part in that it's worthwhile.

I am semi retired and also a carer for my elderly mum who is 93. I am married to Brian and we have a British Shorthair cat called Merlin who has made a huge difference to our lives.

I started volunteering at Woodlands in October 2021 as a cat cuddler on a Thursday afternoon. I absolutely love it and enjoy interacting with the cats and kittens who all have unique personalities. It's a lovely atmosphere and the people I have met are fantastic!

I look forward to helping with fundraising in the future.

I have been at Woodlands since 2006, my role includes overseeing the care of all animals onsite and take charge of the majority of admin tasks.

I have a national diploma in animal care and NVQ level 1 and 2. I have a love of all animals and I own a German Shepherd called Alfie.

I have a real passion for animals, which is why I have worked with them for over 10 years. My experience is mostly with cats and dogs so I love the variety here at Woodlands!

I enjoy that I am learning something new about the animals week after week.

Hi, my name is Neil, I started volunteering at Woodlands in December 2019.

I initially came to Woodlands as a volunteer in 2017, I took a career break doing voluntary work in Nepal, Namibia, Romania, and Zimbabwe. I had an amazing time and met lots of wonderful people and animals, one of the best things was to see wild animals released back into the wild after being cared for at the sanctuaries. The picture is me on top of Big Daddy dune in Namibia, so I admit it wasn’t all work!

I am now a member of staff at Woodlands, working as Animal Care Manager. So I oversee the day to day care of all the animals.

I started at Woodlands in 2015 as a volunteer on the stables side of the sanctuary. I completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Equine Science in 2016 after completing my Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management.

I am currently studying towards a post graduate diploma in animal therapy, which will allow me to become an animal physiotherapist.

I have a passion for animals of all shapes and sizes, but I have a particular love of horses. I started riding when I was 6 and haven’t looked back since! Outside of work I have a Welsh pony called Deago and a staffie cross called Hugo.

Like all the staff at Woodlands, I have a history of loving animals. Beginning early with guinea pigs and rabbits, later dogs and cats, and presently chickens and bees.

After a 30 year career in nursing (the last 10 years spent nursing palliative patients and those with life limiting conditions) I felt the need for a change and applied for the receptionist post.

I have been at Woodlands since 2011, I have overall charge of all equines and their training along with my duties of personal development management for the staff. I also oversee all public relations and some admin tasks such as the newsletter. I also live on site at Woodlands along with my husband and sister in law Vickie.

As a family we live and breathe Woodlands. My true love though is horses.

My qualifications are BHS II, Pony club accredited instructor and UKCC Level 2. I have my horse, cat and several dogs!

I started my Woodlands volunteering 25 years ago & have such pride at being associated with this amazing family run charity. I started as a cat cuddler on a Sunday afternoon but now I have branched out to fundraising work such as bag packs & collections as well as completing home visits for potential fosterers.

Whilst I enjoy all aspects of my volunteer work, my favourite part is the cat cuddling as it is a lovely way of de-stressing after a full week at work! It is incredibly rewarding to see a change over the weeks from a very timid cat or kitten, to one that enjoys affection & is ready for it's forever home.

My Sunday afternoon job is simply the best time of my week!

I do the maintenance here at Woodlands and have done since November 2015

I have an NVQ at Level 2 in Building Maintenance which I gained whilst working here.

At home I have a dog called Otis who is a Jack Russell Terrier and I also keep tropical fish

I was appointed as a trustee in 2017, I am a veterinary surgeon with 27 years’ experience.

I have a PhD in feline infectious respiratory disease and my particular area of interest is feline internal medicine.

Alison Speakman BVMS Hons PhD MRCVS

I was asked to join the Board of Trustees in August 2022, having volunteered at Woodlands for a year. I am also a member of the Fundraising Committee at the sanctuary.

In my day job, I work as a Director of Modern Languages for a large Academy Trust. As the saying goes, ‘Never work with children or animals’, but I figured having spent 27 years working with the former, why not spend my spare time helping the latter! I’ve always loved animals, in particular cats, and my three feline girls are all rescues. Joining the team at Woodlands was the best decision I ever made as it is a truly wonderful place, which does amazing work with a whole range of animals, and it certainly keeps me busy.

I became a Trustee at Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in 2009, after having adopted three cats from the charity the previous year.

I am a Solicitor and assist the Charity with its legal issues.

I love all animals, but cats are my passion!

I became a Trustee for Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in 2011.

I have extensive experience of both the business and charity sectors from working for over twenty years in International Banking, followed by 17 years in Design.

In addition I spent four years working voluntarily as a Treasurer and Event Organiser for a local branch of the British Heart Foundation.

I was appointed as a Trustee in February 2021, having been a volunteer at Woodlands for over 3 years.

I’m a Procurement Manager for a large manufacturing company with sites in the UK, Europe and Middle East. I’ve been with the company for 45 years, gaining a lot of experience in business and within the industry.

I started volunteering at Woodlands when I reduced my hours and working with animals for a couple of days a week really helps my work-life balance. I’ve always shared my home with cats and in 2019 I adopted two from Woodlands – Elvis and Charlie. They joined our resident cat, Horace, who had adopted us the previous year having spent about 12 months living rough. Elvis and Charlie are real lap cats whereas Horace is a streetwise, battle scarred hunter. Despite their differences they all get along together, most of the time.

I have been with Woodlands since the beginning! Before Woodlands was founded by my mother and myself we ran a branch of the Cats Protection.

I was born into animal care and have very clear recollections of cleaning out cat pens aged 4!

I live on site at Woodlands in the family home with my husband, brother and sister in law. The charity is a huge part of my family, we live and breathe it!

I am Jacqui McDerby's brother and was brought up with a wide variety of animals.

I became a trustee in 2011. I have close to 30 years business experience, culminating in Director positions, with blue chip International companies, followed by 12 years as an independent Business Consultant specialising in Supply Chain operations.