Meet the volunteers packing thousands of food parcels for pets

Like all A-level students, Niamh McAleenan-McQuade and Clare Reilly are busy.

But as well as their studies, part-time jobs and hobbies they've also found time for volunteering.

Each week they go to their local USPCA centre where they help prepare food parcels for pets.

The girls have been shortlisted for a BBC Make a Difference Award in the Animal category.

Since beginning volunteering the girls, who are pupils at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry, have packed thousands of parcels.

Niamh said: "We started in the foodbank and then we got to do some grooming which is a lot of fun. It takes a lot longer to groom a Bernese [Mountain Dog] than it does a Cockapoo."

In her spare time, Niamh competes in dog agility competitions and is keen to pursue a career working with animals.

"I've volunteered before so I knew I'd enjoy giving back and getting involved with a team who were passionate about helping animals," she said.

It has been Clare's first experience of voluntary work and is something she is keen to continue – particularly in relation to grooming some of the animals.

"Some of them can be a little bit scared but you just have to wash them and keep them warm."

Jill McBurney, the volunteer co-ordinator at the USPCA, said the work made an "unbelievable difference" and meant people were supported to keep their pets in their homes.

"We saw during Covid that some people were feeding their animals rather than themselves," she said.

Food is donated to the foodbank in large bags.

"The girls then put it into three-day bags that goes out to over 50 foodbanks for people to collect," McBurney said.

The volunteer scheme was organised between the USPCA and the girls' school.

It is coordinated by the Sacred Heart's head of Key Stage 5 Fiona Quinn.

"The USPCA contacted us a few years ago about setting of a volunteering scheme with us and over the past four years around 30 girls have gone down and helped out," she said.

"This year the opportunities have branched out a little – so as well as going down to do the food packages they've also had the opportunity to learn about grooming and looking after the animals that come in to the centre as well.

"They are exemplary girls who have given their time up willingly, we couldn't be prouder of them."

To date the girls have packed thousands of parcels, something the USPCA says has been of tremendous benefit to families and animals in need.

The award is given to an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people, or to a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare.

Sacred Heart Grammar School's USPCA volunteers are one of four finalists in the category, along with:

• Maggie Dimsdale-Bobby (Causeway Coast Dog Rescue), Coleraine - has spent 27 years rescuing animals, from dogs and cats to horses and donkeys.
• Charlie (Palliative Care Therapy Dog), Antrim - an eight‑year‑old collie registered as a Pets As Therapy dog who brings comfort to people in the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Antrim Hospital.
• Sebastian (NSPCC Court Therapy Dog), Belfast - a therapy dog with the NSPCC Young Witness Service who provides emotional support to children and young people attending criminal court.

Overall winners will be announced live on Vinny and Cate's BBC Radio Ulster show on Friday 25 September.