Episode #47
Cats Protection CEO John May - Rethinking Volunteering, Membership, and Power
️ Episode: Why Cats Protection is Rethinking Volunteering, Membership, and Power Hosts: Chris Wade & Matt Cobble Guest: John May, Chief Executive of Cats Protection Episode Summary: How does a 100-year-old charity adapt to changing patterns of volunteering without losing its core identity? In this episode, Chris and Matt sit down with John May, Chief Executive of Cats Protection, to explore what happens when staff and volunteers intentionally share power. John shares how the charity—boasting around 1,000 staff and 10,000 volunteers—is broadening what participation looks like, navigating the tension between local branch autonomy and national responsibility, and building a future of volunteering that is flexible, diverse, and deeply connected to real-world communities. In This Episode, We Cover: A Journey in Leadership: John’s path from Scouts volunteer, teacher, and head teacher to his current role as a charity CEO and being the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. Redefining the Partnership: Why Cats Protection is striving to become an "exemplar" volunteer organisation by repositioning staff and volunteers as true partners, rather than separate power centres. Elevating Volunteer Influence: Moving volunteer contributions beyond direct service delivery and into governance, product development, strategy, and creative work. Balancing Autonomy & Standards: Navigating the historical tensions between local branch independence and national standards, particularly regarding cat welfare decisions, funding, and shared resources. Expanding Participation: How the charity is widening access through flexible, micro-volunteering opportunities that accommodate different time commitments and support neurodiversity, including engaging with gaming communities. The Human-Animal Bond: A look at the Lifeline service and Cat Guardians programme, demonstrating how cat welfare intrinsically connects to human wellbeing, domestic abuse support, and end-of-life planning. 3 Key Takeaways: Volunteering isn't in crisis; it just needs a redesign. We don't have a lack of willing people; we have a need for more flexibility, trust, and better-designed opportunities that fit modern lifestyles. True partnership requires sharing power. To build an exemplar volunteer culture, charities must move away from top-down management and invite volunteers to shape strategy, education, and advocacy. Animal welfare is human welfare. By looking beyond rehoming, charities can create profound social impact—such as using foster networks to support individuals fleeing domestic abuse or providing peace of mind for the elderly. Resources Mentioned: Cats Protection Cats Protection Lifeline Service Cat Guardians Programme Support the Podcast: Like any creative endeavour, bringing the podcast to life involves real costs in production, editing, and planning. As a small charity consultancy, our primary income comes from providing paid advice and training, allowing us to freely share our hard-earned expertise. If you find the Time for Impact podcast valuable, please consider a small, entirely voluntary contribution of £4 through our Buy Me a Coffee account: buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfi . Your generosity directly supports our ability to continue producing this resource for the sector. Join the Conversation: If you want to recommend guests for future episodes or discuss how Time For Impact volunteering consultants can help your charity, please email podcast@TimeForImpact.co.uk or visit TimeForImpact.co.uk . Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and YouTube .
