Volunteering at St Oswald's Hospice

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with St Oswald’s

We update this page with our current volunteering opportunities and role descriptions. If you’d like to apply for a role, please return your completed form to volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org.

Please note, we are only able to accept application forms specifically for the available volunteering opportunities shown on this page. If you’re still interested in volunteering but can’t find a suitable role today, please keep checking back for new opportunities soon.

Get prepared!

St Oswald’s Hospice is keen to recruit volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, to ensure that everybody has a chance to contribute to the development of our organisation and get valuable personal and professional experience along the way. Every volunteer application is followed up by an informal interview, during which staff aim to understand volunteer applicants’ skills, experience, achievements and motivations. You can find our informal interview questions as well as the volunteer journey below – we are hoping that providing this form ahead of time will give future volunteers the best opportunity to feel prepared and informed and to provide a warm, inclusive welcome.

Your volunteer journey

Informal interview questions

Download the informal interview questions below.

Download

People Charter for Volunteers

Download People Charter for Volunteers below.

Download

Your Volunteer handbook

Download Volunteer handbook below.

Download

Hospice volunteering roles

Hilary Brewis

Driver Volunteers (Various roles available)

Ready to embark on a journey of compassion and care? As part of our volunteer transport team, you’ll be more than a driver – you’ll be a lifeline, offering personalised transport services to those in need.

Your role involves more than just driving. Your warmth, tact, empathy, and sensitivity will create a comforting environment for our patients.

From delivering garments to patients’ homes to collecting equipment and supporting hospice services, your friendly nature will ensure every interaction leaves a positive impact. You’ll be a crucial link in our care network.

We are keen to recruit Volunteer Minibus and Pool Car Drivers, Volunteer Non-Patient Drivers and a Volunteer Non-Patient Driver:

Volunteer Minibus and Pool Car Drivers

If you have a full UK driving licence and are willing to undergo necessary training, including MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme), then we would love to hear from you! Vacancies for Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and/or Fridays.

Download role description | Apply now

Volunteer Own Car Drivers

If you have your own transport, a full UK driving licence and a willingness to undergo necessary training, then we would love to hear from you! Vacancies for Wednesdays, Thursdays and/or Fridays.

Download role description | Apply now

Volunteer Non-Patient Drivers

As a Non-Patient Driver, you’ll be at the forefront of providing essential services to our patients and supporters. From delivering garments to patients’ homes to collecting equipment and supporting services within the hospice, your friendly and outgoing nature will ensure that every interaction leaves a positive impact. Vacancy for Thursdays and/or Fridays but other week days may be available if an applicant prefers this. A full UK Driving Licence is required for this role.

Download role description | Apply now

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Trustee Volunteer

Experienced in business change management, with a track record of successful transformations?

Know how to leverage technology to drive innovation and improve service delivery?

Ready to make a profound impact for people living with progressive, life-limiting conditions?

If you’ve answered ‘YES’ to these questions, then we want YOU to consider joining us as our next Trustee!

At St Oswald’s Hospice, we aim to provide quality time, compassionate care and support to individuals and families. As a Trustee, you’ll play a pivotal role in steering the course of our organisation, with responsibilities ranging from governance and strategic direction to ensuring our financial health.

Your expertise in business and technology could be just what we need to drive forward innovative initiatives and ensure we continue delivering the highest quality of care to our community.

If you have experience in the NHS/healthcare sector that would be helpful, but it’s not essential.

Don’t miss this rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most across the North East.

For an informal chat about the post, please call Steph Edusei on 0191 285 0063 or alternatively email StephanieEdusei@stoswaldsuk.org for further info and an application form.

Download role description Contact Steph Edusei
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Gardening Volunteers

Are you enthusiastic about gardening? Ready to make a difference to the lives of our patients and families?

We’re looking to expand our volunteer team and would love to hear from anyone with a passion for gardening and skill to share as a Gardening Volunteer!

Download role description Apply now
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Facilities Volunteer (Maintenance)

Our fantastic Facilities Team is looking for helping hands to support a wide variety of tasks right across the Hospice. If you’re a dab hand at DIY and have practical maintenance skills to share or develop, we’d love to hear from you! This role supports our friendly and busy team in keeping our clinical areas, offices and other spaces in good working order as a safe and welcoming place to be.

We are currently recruiting two volunteers for this role.

Download role description Apply now
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Supporter Engagement Volunteer

Connecting with and thanking our wonderful supporters is a vital part of our Supporter Care Team – if you’re looking to develop and share your relationship building skills, this could be the volunteer role for you! You’ll spend time on the phone welcoming new supporters or chatting with existing supporters and making sure their information is up to date on our database. We’d love you to join our team!

The role is based in our Fundraising offices at our main Hospice site in Gosforth and the hours are flexible Monday to Friday, between the core business hours 9am – 5pm. Volunteering hours are flexible, depending on how much support a volunteer wishes to regularly give – from 2/ 3 hours per week to up to 1 day a week.

Download role description Apply now
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Early Evening Main Reception Volunteer

Our Main Reception provides a warm welcome for everyone at St Oswald’s Hospice – it is the hub and heart of our Gosforth site. We are looking for Early Evening Main Reception volunteers who can regularly support us on a Friday from 4.30 pm – 7.30pm, either every fortnight or every three weeks.

This special volunteering role will best suit someone with a calm, confident communication style; a friendly, sensitive manner; who is comfortable in challenging situations; and someone who can enjoy working unsupervised, as the day time Main Reception staff will be off shift from 4.30pm onwards.

Our Evening Main Reception volunteer will provide a warm welcome and efficient reception service for patients and their families, staff, volunteers and visitors at the main Hospice site in Gosforth. The main tasks of the role will be to meet and greet families and visitors of patients from our adult in patient ward; ensure that all Hospice visitors sign in and out, complying with fire safety regulations; accept deliveries and collections of goods; process incoming donations of cash / cheques from visitors; and assist some of the Hospice teams with occasional jobs such as envelope stuffing and mailshots.

The Evening Main Reception volunteer role is open to applicants aged 18 years and over.

We would love to hear from you if you would like to support us in this role!

Download role description Apply now

Retail volunteering roles

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Shop Volunteer

Our fabulous shops are always looking to boost their volunteer power! You’ll be part of day to day shop life – customer service, processing donations and ensuring your retail space is inviting, organised and safe for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you see yourself creatively dressing windows, sorting and preparing stock, or front and centre behind the till, retail volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people, gain experience and skills for your CV and of course to generate income for our wonderful Hospice.

If you would like to find out more information about any of our shop volunteer roles, please email us below stating which shop/shops you would like to volunteer at. (Find your local St Oswald’s shop here).

volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org
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Van Crew Volunteers

As our shops reopen and donations are flooding in, we’re on the lookout for Van Assistant volunteers to support our brilliant Drivers. You’ll be involved in house clearances, moving and handling of large household items and making collections and deliveries from our shops around the region.

Based either at Kingston Park or our Benfield site, this role would suit someone looking to enhance their logistics or retail CV by getting stuck into a physically demanding volunteer role in a friendly team. You’ll be based at either our Kingston Park or Benfield site and days optional Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm.

If you would like to apply or find out more information about the role, please email us through the link below.

volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org
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Shop Volunteer (Posh Frocks and Bridal Boutique, Whitley Bay)

St Oswald’s Hospice Posh Frocks shop is seeking friendly and dedicated volunteers to join our team. Our specialty is bridal and occasion wear, and we take pride in offering beautiful gowns and accessories that make every bride’s special day even more magical. As a volunteer with us, you’ll play a vital role in creating unforgettable experiences for our brides-to-be while supporting a great cause.

Make a Difference and help brides find their dream dress and make lasting memories while supporting St Oswald’s Hospice.

Immerse yourself in the world of bridal fashion, from elegant gowns to stunning accessories.

Be part of a warm and welcoming team, meet new people, and form meaningful friendships.

What We’re Looking For:

– Enthusiastic and friendly individuals with a passion for bridal fashion

– Reliable and committed volunteers who can dedicate a few hours each week

– Team players who enjoy working with people and providing excellent customer service

– All that material in a wedding dress does have a bit of weight to it, so you will need a level of physical fitness too

How You Can Help:

– Assisting brides in selecting and fitting their perfect dress

– Organising and maintaining our beautiful collection of bridal and occasion wear

– Creating a welcoming and supportive environment for our customers

No previous experience is necessary – just a big heart and a willingness to help! If you’re ready to make a difference and be a part of something special, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply or learn more, please visit our shop at 37 – 39 Park View in Whitley Bay, contact our shop manager at our Whitley Bay shop on 0191 251 3528 / 0191 253 1870, or email us at WhitleyBayShop@stoswaldsuk.org.

volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org
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Shop Volunteer (Gosforth Shop & Gosforth Books Shop)

Do you have some spare time available to regularly support us in our very recently refurbished Gosforth Shop or Gosforth Books Shop? This could be the opportunity for you.

This is a great opportunity for volunteers who like to try a bit of everything, from dealing with customers face-to-face to taking payment for goods, answering customer enquiries to sorting donations and helping to prepare them for sale. There are a range of opportunities for volunteers to support us in both the front and back of our Gosforth shops.

Good communication skills are desirable for these exciting roles. It is an opportunity to make new friends, meet new people and join a friendly team at the heart of the local community.

Volunteering can help boost or maintain your skills and confidence – and if you don’t have the skills needed, then where possible we’ll help to develop them. Often, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a ready smile are the most important skills required. There is no need for any previous retail or volunteering experience.

To chat to us about volunteering in our Gosforth Shops please contact Marc, our shop manager at the Gosforth Shops, on 0191 284 7298 or email us at GosforthShop@stoswaldsuk.org. Volunteering is open to those aged 14 years and over.

volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org