A MALVERN animal rescue charity has turned to apprenticeships to help continue its vital work.

Worcestershire Animal Rescue Shelter has hired two apprentices for the first time, thanks to support from Malvern Hills District Council.

The charity - which provides shelter, medical treatment and care to abandoned and unwanted cats and dogs - has limited funds and relies heavily on volunteers and a small team of staff.

The organisation was looking for a cost-effective way of recruiting and training staff and decided going down the apprenticeship route would be worth exploring.

They successfully applied for a grant of £1,000 from the council’s Malvern Hills Apprenticeship Grant and a further £1,500 from the national AGE to help pay for training and salary costs.

As a result, Carolina Formaggio, 20, from Worcester, became the charity’s first apprentice and encouraged by her success, a second post was created which was filled by 19-year-old Joel Guiver-Dewar from Malvern.

A keen animal lover, Mr Guiver-Dewar said he was attracted to the idea of an apprenticeship as he was concerned about being saddled with debt and this would allow him to work and study for a Level 2 in animal welfare with Warwickshire College Group.

Shelter manager Claire Treguna said: “There’s a lot more to animal welfare than just liking animals. You have to take your duty of care seriously, and whilst rewarding it can also be physically and mentally difficult. Both Carolina and Joel had the right work ethic and aptitude that we look for, and hiring apprentices has been really cost-effective for us.

Cllr David Chambers said: “We’re committed to helping our young people develop their skills and apprenticeships are an important part of that. With employers now being asked to contribute ten per cent of apprenticeship training costs, I’d urge all businesses to look at the grants available to them both locally and nationally.”