On behalf of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), I’m pleased to welcome you as a Peer Mentor. Your commitment to animal welfare is truly appreciated, and we’re delighted to have you join our dedicated team. 

Since 1985, ADCH has been the leading charity representing dog and cat rescue and rehoming organisations across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. We’re proud to support over 160 member organisations – all registered charities – working together to improve the lives of animals in need. Collectively, we represent more than 5,000 staff and volunteers, united by a shared mission to safeguard the welfare of dogs and cats. 

As a Peer Mentor, you’ll play an important role in supporting that mission by helping to support our members and potential new members to meet ADCH’s Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards. Your insights and support help raise standards across the sector and strengthen the community of care around our animals. 

We value the time and experience you bring, and we hope you’ll find this role both rewarding and impactful. Your involvement helps create lasting, positive change – and we’re excited to have you on board. 

Welcome to the ADCH community. We look forward to working with you. 

Warm regards, 

Michelle Widger 

Volunteer Manager
Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) 

Our Vision: A positive life for all dogs and cats 

Our Mission: ADCH is an umbrella organisation which works on behalf of its members to create a professional and sustainable sector which improves the lives of dogs and cats. 

Our Values:

Leadership – ADCH and its Members leading the sector and proactively tackling future issues and facilitating solutions while listening to all involved. 

Collaboration – We all share knowledge, expertise, and actions for excellence. 

Integrity - High standards including transparency, respect and inclusion. 

Professionalism – Innovative experts with ambition for the sector 

Support – Helping members to grow and develop together for dogs, cats and people too. 

Our Purpose: 

• Develop good practice and influence others working in the rescue and/or rehoming of dogs and cats. 

• Address common problems and issues. 

• Explore and, where appropriate, negotiate price reductions through economies of scale. 

• Exchange information and provide mutual support where practicable, which may include the movement of dogs and cats between organisations. 

• Combine resources to encourage workable, welfare enhancing legislation. 

• Exchange knowledge in construction and refurbishment of facilities. 

• Where appropriate and agreed, represent the views of members to a wider audience. 

The main role of Peer Mentors is to support ADCH’s Strategic Priority to raise standards across the sector. You will do this by providing holistic support and guidance to our Members and potential Members on
areas where they may require additional support to meet specific ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards. 

The key tasks of Assessors, include but are not limited to: 

Providing one-to-one guidance and support to ADCH Members/potential Members on how they might best achieve and maintain ADCH’s Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards considering the context of their rescue. This may be in-person, over video-call, phone-calls or via email, and will likely be a combination of all contact methods. Site visits will not normally be needed and would only be with your explicit agreement.

Promoting, and signposting to, relevant ADCH Member benefits when in contact with rescues.

Highlighting any significant concerns regarding animal welfare or operational compliance to ADCH for review.

Michelle Widger, Volunteer Manager: [email protected] 

Michelle will be your point of contact for any matters related to the Peer Mentor role.

The Peer Mentor role will not normally require site visits. However if you do visiting rescues as part of your role, please familiarise yourself with the health and safety procedures at each site. Ensure you follow any site-specific rules, including sign-in/out procedures. All accidents, injuries, or safety concerns, no matter how minor, must be reported to your Volunteer Manager as soon as possible, who will assist you in completing an incident report and ensure that any necessary support or follow-up is provided. 

If you are lone working, ensure that a trusted contact knows your planned movements and whereabouts and that they are aware when you have returned to home/work after a visit. In the case of any threat or discomfort during a visit, leave the site immediately and report to your Volunteer Manager. For further information, please refer to ADCH’s Lone Working Policy V6. 

Please contact the Volunteer Manager if you require any support navigating this Peer Mentors Area.

As well as the Peer Mentors’ Area, you also have access to the ADCH Members Area. This area of the ADCH website contains information on the benefits of membership. It is important Peer Mentors familiarise themselves with these benefits so they can signpost them to rescues.  

As part of your commitment to the Peer Mentor role and ongoing professional development, you are required to engage with training opportunities provided. It is important that you take the time to read all Peer Mentors’ Update emails as these will be the main way training opportunities, information and updates are shared with you.  

Where relevant, you may also be invited to access training and support opportunities offered to our Volunteer Assessors as there is some overlap between both volunteer roles.

We ask our Peer Mentors to commit to upholding our Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct. By volunteering with ADCH, you agree to act with integrity, respect others, follow our policies, and support the wellbeing of people and animals. In return, ADCH will provide guidance, support, and a positive volunteering environment. This is a mutual agreement and can be ended at any time by either party. You can read the full Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct here.  

Lastly, on behalf of everyone at ADCH, thank you for using your time, skills and expertise to support ADCH’s work. You are a vital part of our work to create a professional and sustainable sector which improves the lives of dogs and cats.