Whatever you can do, whenever you can.

(The titles are the links to the respective websites).

Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA)

SPCA needs help with mailouts, dog walking, kennel cleaning and manning the shelter phones. They also need public relations officers and adoption counsellors.

Volunteers must be at least 17 years old and be able to commit to a minimum of 4 consecutive months on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore

WRS, a parent company of the Zoo, Bird Park and Night and River Safaris, invites anyone over 15 years to become Conservation Ambassadors to conduct guided tours of exhibits.

The parks also need Docents who can volunteer once a month for at least a year – you need to be over 21years and be passionate about nature.

Wildlife Buddies – after training you become a wildlife guide for your ‘buddies’. Sign up as a class or with a group of like-minded friends. Volunteers are interviewed when they apply.

Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres)

This animal protection organisation has a number of programmes that depend on volunteer help such as wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and community outreach programmes on humane practices.

Volunteers in the guardians programme help by taking care of rescued animals and in the daily operations of Acres.

They must be at least 16 years old, be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B and have had their tetanus shots before they are accepted for training.

Those interested in the rescue of native wildlife can join the Wildlife Rescue Team which is on call 24/7. They  must be over 21 years in age and must commit their time at least twice a month.

Ad hoc opportunities include design, IT and legal expertise – all welcome.

The Nature Society Singapore

This society, dedicated to the conservation, research and appreication of the island’s natural environment, need help during different projects such as the Horseshoe Crab Research and Rescue in the Mandai mudflats and a study on butterfly feeding behaviour.

Plenty of ad hoc opportunities that do not require a long term commitment.

National Parks

Check out the oppotunities to volunteer in Fort Canning Park, HortPark, Pasir Ris Park, Pulau Ubin, Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

They welcome help with gardening, manning park information booths, park conservation and coastal clean-ups, guided walks and educational workshops.

Society for the Physically Disabled

Anyone can volunteer to help people with disabilities develop their skills towards becoming as independent as they can.

Fund raising, administration, tuition, sports, friends, reading coaches, rehabilitation programmes … there are many areas where a little goes a long way.

Movement For The Intellectually Disabled Of Singapore (MINDS)

Volunteers can help maxmise the skill and social development of people with mental disabilities. A ‘Befriender’ spends three hours every weekend leading fun activities that teach basic life skills.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. No prior experience required, but a firm commitment on a weekly basis is necessary.

Professionals can offer skills and services in medicine, dentistry, music, art and drama therapy classes.

KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital

Volunteers are required to interact with children, run arts and crafts groups and ward entertainment programmes. Its Caring Clowns programme, for example, is staffed with volunteers who make monthly visits to paediatric wards to entertain and cheer children through storytelling, crafts and magic.

Bi-lingual volunteers preferred, and people over 25 with experience in handling babies and can commit to a year of helping once or twice a week for two hours each time are needed for the baby-feeding programmes.

Singapore General Hospital

Friends of SGH volunteer to help with ward entertainment – such as music performances and art & craft classes, fundraising for offsetting medical expenses and retail – selling handicraft and gift items.

Also required are guiders or volunteers to assist elderly patients in and around the hospital, to work in two four-hour shifts, at least one shift a week, either at 9.00 a.m. or 1.00 p.m.

Volunteers need to attend a 3 hour orientation programme.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

Granting the wishes of chronically and terminally ill children is challenging and rewarding, and the foundation needs assistance in fundraising, entertainment, photographers, videographers, administrators, technical support and wish granters or people who use their networks and know-how to make childrens’ wishes come true.

Most volunteer work is on an ad hoc basis and all volunteers are required to undergo an orientation programme, a reference check and an interview.