Pet Besties

Meet our gorgeous rescue team

Our amazing rescue team

Quite simply, our rescue team at the centre are beyond amazing. The work they do is exceptional. They are a small team that take on a big responsibility and a considerable workload. Although they are responsible for managing the surrender of pets and their rehoming, the team also love and provide care and compassion for every pet that walks through these doors.

As a charity, we couldn’t be without them.

You can help; their workload is oppressive. Please do not call the rescue team about adoption; please email your queries.

Gemma

Welfare Office Co-ordinator

Gemma is our Welfare Office Coordinator, progressing on from being a member of our animal care and office assistant teams and completing her apprenticeship. Her days involve assessing animals from their arrival, before matching them up and finding them their new, forever homes. 

Gemma also has experience assisting in a grooming salon which gave her the push to pursue her dream of working with animals full-time and her wish to gain qualifications in animal care and husbandry!. 

Tara

Welfare Office Assistant

Tara is our Welfare Assistant.

Her days involve assessing animals from their arrival, before matching them up and finding them their new, forever homes. 

Tara loves animals and her passion for all of them comes through in her care in her work.

Alice

Volunteer Co-ordinator

Alice is our Volunteer Co-ordinator, responsible for the recruitment and placement of new volunteers, and providing support to existing volunteers. 

Alice is also Kennel Manager for the Centre.

Lin

rehoming Co-ordinator

Lin started volunteering in 2015 started doing fundraising then progressed in to helping out in the rescue office Lin is now our rehoming co-ordinator and always happy to help.

Lin has been volunteering at St Giles now for 9 years, she likes to help out any way she can weather its doing home visits, Admin, fundraising or fostering

Lin has a strong passion for animal care and welfare.

Mel

Marketing & Fundraising Lead

Mel is head of Marketing and Fundraising for the Welfare, responsible for the all our social media channels, website, promotion, events, corporate events and education sessions. She works closely with the Welfare team to provide support whenever needed.

Mel is very passionate about her role and loves working with the Welfare team. She has 2 fur babies of her own (Jack and Layla) – both are rescue!

Sam

Social Mentor Lead

Sam has worked for St Giles Centre since 2020, learning various skills and being involved in all aspects of Centre life. She is also a qualified teacher and drives our enrichment programme and is passionate about making a difference to SEN learning. Her current titles also include site supervisor and animal care assistant.

Sam has adopted a cat and a dog from St Giles Animal Welfare. She is very dedicated to her work and is a big part of the St Giles Family.

Mark

Social Mentor

Mark is a qualified teacher and spent 15 years working as a class teacher and then an assistant head in a large primary school in Hertfordshire. He is also an Ofsted registered childminder providing before and after school care  to the children in his local village. Mark has worked independently as a dog walker for the previous five years.

At home Mark has a number of different pets including a rescue dog, giant African land snails, cold water fish, a rat and two guinea pigs. In his spare time Mark and his eldest daughter are season ticket holders at Wycombe Wanderers FC and at Somerset Cricket Club.

Our Mission

To provide rescue support for abused, abandoned, displaced pets; to ultimately introduce them to a loving family and find their forever home.

Our Vision

To create a safe place for ALL rescued animals to find succor, healing and hope. To help educate and transform human/pet relationships through continual learning.

Our Values

To provide the same level of love and care for all our stakeholders as we do our rescues. To be recognised not just for the good work we do but for the good we inspire.

Volunteer

Volunteering is an enjoyable way of helping a rescue animal and can be very rewarding to both you and the animal. We have a range of volunteering roles from dog walking and cat cuddling through to helping raise much needed funds or home visiting. You will meet like minded people and enjoy developing or learning new skills.