Friends of the Zoo

Public benefits

The direct benefits flowing from our work at Belfast Zoo include a more enjoyable visitor experience, and enhanced animal welfare. These benefits can be demonstrated through visitor feedback and comments on social media, and feedback from zoo staff. The potential for any harm to our volunteers is carefully offset using risk assessments. Our

beneficiaries include the zoo, our own volunteers, the general public, animals in the zoo, and other conservation causes. Our suppliers of merchandise benefit from our sales, but this is necessary to allow us to raise funds more effectively. For insurance reasons, we require our volunteers to obtain some personal protective equipment before they can do manual work with us. We recommend a particular supplier, who offer us a discount, but the volunteer is free to choose another supplier if they wish. Hence, such private benefits are incidental and necessary.

What your organisation does

We provide volunteers to help around the zoo site, as directed by staff. We also raise funds for zoo projects and other animal charities by selling merchandise and crafts, hosting social events, etc.