Join the Animal Cwtch Team!
Casual Animal Educator – Zero-Hours Role
Based in Swansea (Home-based, with travel to sessions)
Flexible hours
£12.75 per hour
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DBS & training provided
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Are you friendly, reliable, and passionate about animals, education, and inclusion?
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We’re looking for someone special to join our growing team and support our much-loved mobile animal encounters! This is a casual, flexible role perfect for someone who loves variety and wants to make a difference.
The Role
You’ll be joining a small, passionate, family-run team delivering mobile animal encounters across South Wales. Sessions include school visits, care homes, community groups, birthday parties, SEN groups, and more. Every session is different — and that’s part of the fun!
Your role may include:
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Assisting or helping to lead engaging animal sessions
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Handling and caring for a wide range of animals (from parrots and prairie dogs to tarantulas, ducks, tortoises, and lizards)
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Setting up and packing away for visits
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Helping children and adults of all ages and needs interact confidently with animals
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Supporting with basic animal care or admin when needed
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Optional creative tasks like taking photos or supporting social media
You’ll always work alongside Jo or another experienced team member. You will never be expected to run sessions alone, and all training is paid and at your pace.
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About You
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We’re looking for someone who is:
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Friendly, calm, and confident around people
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Comfortable with animals (or open to learning)
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Reliable and flexible, with the ability to work occasional short-notice sessions
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Inclusive and understanding — we work with children and adults with additional needs, anxiety, trauma, and other support needs
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Comfortable working from our family home base, where the animals live
Ideal candidates will be based in or near Swansea, as travel time to and from our home is a key part of the job.
Driving is a bonus but not essential. You may occasionally be asked to help with transport (with or without animals).
We also welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates. You don’t have to enjoy every type of session — let us know your strengths (e.g. nurseries, schools, care homes, SEN groups), and we’ll try to match you to the right work.
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Availability
This is a casual zero-hours role. Work is flexible and varies across the year:
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Some weeks will be very busy, especially during school holidays
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Other times, like winter, may be quieter with little or no work
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The role suits someone who enjoys variety and doesn’t need guaranteed weekly hours
We’re especially interested in people available on Thursdays, Fridays, and during school holidays.
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What We Offer
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£12.75 per hour
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Paid training and shadowing
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A supportive and inclusive working environment
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Hands-on experience with a wide variety of exotic animals
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Flexible, child- and team-led sessions where your voice matters
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Opportunities to support creative projects, grow your confidence, and learn new skills
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A truly rewarding role where you’ll help create joyful, memorable experiences for others
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What to Expect
If shortlisted, you will be invited to:
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Visit our home base to meet the team and see how we work
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Prepare a short 2–5 minute animal talk (you can choose any animal — one of yours, one of ours, or one you’re passionate about)
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Have an informal interview over tea and a chat
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Apply Now
Click below to apply:
Apply Here – Job Application Form
Closing date: Midday on Friday 11tt April
You’ll hear from us before: Friday 25th April
If you have questions about the role or the application process, please email:
What to Expect
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A relaxed, slightly chaotic work environment — we’re based at home, and things change often
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Many of us are neurodivergent, and we welcome those who are too — your differences are safe here
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You don’t have to be crazy to work here… but it definitely helps
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Some animals will love you. Some will ignore you. A few may wee on you. And some (like Freddy the cat) will definitely try to steal your heart (or your chair)
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You’ll get scratched, occasionally nibbled, and probably covered in animal poo at some point — it’s part of the job!
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Expect to walk in and find something new has arrived or everything has moved around — we adapt a lot
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You’ll work with a huge range of animals — from ducks, guinea pigs, and rabbits to parrots, lizards, snakes, and spiders
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Our living room currently has prairie dogs, guinea pigs, ducks and rabbits — this is not a drill
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You’ll support sessions in schools, care homes, nurseries, SEN groups, events, and parties
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We’re fully inclusive — most sessions involve children or adults with additional needs, trauma, anxiety, or learning differences
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You’ll never be expected to lead sessions alone — we ease you in gently with full training and support
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Shadowing is paid, and you can grow into your role at your own pace
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We’re happy to hear what types of sessions you prefer — we don’t expect everyone to enjoy everything
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You can take initiative — if something needs doing and you’re happy to do it, go for it
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Some jobs are messy (cleaning up poo, prepping veg, scrubbing tubs) — but we share the load and keep it real
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You won’t be micromanaged, but we’re always here to support you
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A great team who are honest, kind, and maybe a bit weird (in the best possible way)
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We respect your needs, identity, boundaries, and communication style
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You’ll need to be able to work in a sensory-rich environment (smells, sounds, movement, and sometimes chaos)
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We are currently expanding — new ideas on the horizon include reading sessions with animals, animal care workshops, youth volunteering, and more
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You’ll get hands-on experience that’s hard to find anywhere else
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There is always support — just ask.
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Contact via email, or whatsApp/Text 07798761592.