Two A-level students pack thousands of pet food parcels for USPCA award

Two A-level students at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry have packed thousands of pet food parcels while volunteering at the USPCA. Niamh McAleenan-McQuade and Clare Reilly are finalists for a BBC Make a Difference Award in the Animal category.

Niamh McAleenan-McQuade and Clare Reilly balance their studies, part-time jobs and hobbies with weekly volunteering at their local USPCA centre, where they prepare food parcels for animals in need. The pair, pupils at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry, have been shortlisted for a BBC Make a Difference Award in the Animal category. Since they began volunteering, the two have packed thousands of parcels that support families struggling to feed their pets.

The USPCA's companion animal food parcels programme has been running for over six years and distributes food, bedding, litter and pest-control products to food banks across Northern Ireland, according to the organisation's services information. Donated food arrives in large bags and is repackaged into three-day portions for distribution to more than 50 foodbanks where people can collect them.

A woman with red hair smiles at the camera — Jill McBurney is the volunteer co-ordinator at the USPCA

How did the girls get involved in volunteering?

Niamh began by working in the foodbank section before progressing to animal grooming, which she found particularly rewarding.

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.

Outside her volunteer work, 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 explained.

For Clare, this represents her first experience of voluntary work, and she has become particularly interested in the grooming aspect of the role.

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

She is committed to continuing her involvement with the centre.

A woman with brownish hair smiles at the camera — Sacred Heart's Fiona Quinn said the girls have had good opportunities at the centre

What impact has the volunteer scheme had?

Jill McBurney, the volunteer co-ordinator at the USPCA, emphasised the significance of the work undertaken by the students. She stated that their efforts made an

unbelievable difference

and enabled people to keep their pets in their homes during financial hardship.

We saw during Covid that some people were feeding their animals rather than themselves,

McBurney noted, highlighting the critical nature of the foodbank service.

Sacred Heart Grammar School's head of Key Stage 5, Fiona Quinn, praised the girls' dedication and the broader success of the partnership.

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. Sacred Heart Grammar School was one of the USPCA's first school-membership partners, with pupils volunteering to pack pet-food parcels as part of that programme.

A girl with blonde hair and one with dark hair smile at the camera — Niamh and Clare have packed thousands of parcels

How has the scheme expanded?

The volunteering opportunities have broadened significantly in recent years.

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.

Quinn described Niamh and Clare as

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

The USPCA has confirmed that the thousands of parcels packed by volunteers have been of tremendous benefit to families and animals in need across the region.

BBC Make a Difference purple graphic with the words 'THE ANIMAL AWARD' in the middle.

Who are the other finalists in the Animal Award?

The Sacred Heart Grammar School USPCA volunteers are competing against three other finalists in the category. Maggie Dimsdale-Bobby of Causeway Coast Dog Rescue in Coleraine has spent 27 years rescuing animals, including dogs, cats, horses and donkeys. Charlie, an eight-year-old collie registered as a Pets As Therapy dog, provides comfort to patients in the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Antrim Hospital. Sebastian, a therapy dog with the NSPCC Young Witness Service in Belfast, offers emotional support to children and young people attending criminal court.

When will the winners be announced?

The overall winners of the Northern Ireland Make A Difference Awards 2026 are set to be announced live on a national broadcaster's radio show on Friday 25 September. The award recognises animals that improve the lives of individuals or groups of people, or people and groups working with animals to improve animal welfare.