Current volunteering opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for us! Please find below some of our current volunteer opportunities in the North East.
Over 1400 volunteers work alongside our paid staff and offer their skills, experience and expertise to every department within the Hospice. They are, quite simply, the lifeblood of St Oswald’s and we wouldn’t be able to operate without them.
We have over 120 different volunteering roles: working directly with patients; in a support role; in our charity shops or in our Fundraising team. Roles are based at the Hospice in Gosforth, or out in the local communities of Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Tyneside and Sunderland.
If you are interested in one of these roles please call our Volunteer Office on 0191 246 9125, email volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.
If you would like to be sent a list of all our current volunteering opportunities please use the contact details above to get in touch. If you’re interested in a volunteering role that’s not currently available please get in touch and we’ll contact you if a relevant role becomes available.
For more information:
Download our Volunteering leaflet
Download our 'What to expect' recruitment leaflet
- Ambassadors
We are looking for confident presenters to work externally within their own community to promote the work of St Oswald’s and its Fundraising opportunities. You will have the chance to meet interesting people and visit interesting places as well as support our Fundraising efforts.
Shifts needed:
Times and days negotiable.
We are ideally looking for people from the North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside areas but also welcome people from Newcastle, Northumberland and North Durham.
- Kitchen Assistants
We are looking for help in our very busy professional kitchen, taking part in vegetable preparation, dishwashing and general kitchen duties in a very sociable area.
Shifts needed:
- Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 2pm.
- Bank volunteers also required.
- Voluntary Complementary Therapist
We are seeking Holistic Therapists with an Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Indian Head Massage qualification to Diploma Level 3 with professional insurance, professional membership and continuous professional development certification.
Shifts needed:
- 1 day a week (negotiable, Monday to Friday excluding Thursday) for a minimum of 4 hours.
- Volunteer Van Driver's Assistant
To work alongside our Retail Van Drivers picking up donated items across the area and moving stock between our retail units in the community.
Shifts needed:
- All days, days negotiable.
- Start 8.00am at Kingston Park and finish 3.30pm - 4.00pm depending on route and traffic.
- Lunch allowance provided.
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Van Driver's Assistant please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.
For more information:
- Events Volunteers
We are looking for friendly, outgoing, confident supporters to join us in delivering our many and varied events, including:
- Providing a for our Great North Runners at the finish line in South Shields.
- Our Christmas Market needs extra pairs of hands to make it happen.
- Promote our wedding favours and our new bridal shop at various wedding fairs.
Please visit our website for more details. Come and join us meet new people and have fun. Download our events volunteer booklet to find out more:
Download our Event Volunteer booklet
Please call our Volunteer Office on 0191 246 9125, email volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.
- Gardener Volunteers
We are looking for more Gardeners to our award winning team. We have 38 gardens from very small to large and this involves lots of work to keep these gardens to a high standard.
You will work as part of the gardening team, to maintain and develop the garden areas on the main Hospice site.
The main tasks include looking after lawns, trees, shrubs and composting.
A keen interest in gardening, and the ability to work as part of a team would be beneficial.
Shifts needed:
- Days and times negotiable.
- Housekeeper Volunteers
To ensure that the highest possible standards of hygiene and cleanliness are met and maintained to ensure a clean and safe environment for patients, children, staff, volunteers and visitors within the Hospice.
Shifts needed:
- Days and times negotiable.
- Retail Shop Volunteers
We’re looking for friendly people who enjoy working as part of a team and will be happy to help our customers and provide quality service.
We ask that our volunteers show enthusiasm and commitment to St Oswald’s and what we stand for.
A shop volunteer role can be very varied; from assisting customers, sorting and replenishing stock and working on the tills to creating visual displays on the shop floor, window dressing and helping to promote public understanding of the work St Oswald’s does.
If you are interested in becoming a shop volunteer please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.
- Pets as Therapy – Cats and Dogs
We are currently looking to recruit more PAT (Pets as Therapy) Dogs and Cats.
If you have a lovable pet and want to register with Pets as Therapy use this link to explore the website: http://www.petsastherapy.org
There is a small registration charge, and we can only accept registered and assessed animals.
Times negotiable:
- Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
- Warehouse Volunteers
Duties will include:
- Accepting donations from the general public.
- Sorting donated stock and preparing it for sale.
- Merchandising stock onto display racks.
- Serving customers and accepting cash when fully trained.
- General housekeeping of front and back areas.
Shifts available:
- Opening hours 9am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday
- Half or full days available
- Main Reception Volunteer
You will provide an efficient and effective reception service ensuring that it maintains a caring, friendly, sensitive and welcoming environment for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers whether face to face or by telephone.
Full training will be given.
Shifts available:
- Wednesday 5pm - 8pm
- Friday 12.30pm - 1.30pm (to cover lunch break)
- Saturday 5pm - 8pm
- Sunday 9am - 1pm
- Sunday 5pm - 8pm
- Bank shifts also available
- Income Generation Volunteer
Working on our Hospice site, supported by the Individual Giving Fundraising team, you will be contacting current and potential donors, to thank them for their support and inform them about new donation opportunities.
Shifts available:
- Any time between 4.00pm - 8.00pm, Monday - Thursday.
- Hours negotiable.
- Confidential Waste Processor
To reduce St Oswald’s carbon footprint, by helping to manage with the disposal of very sensitive confidential information/paperwork.
Shifts available:
- Wednesdays (time negotiable)
- Collection Line Volunteer
To help raise funds for St Oswald’s by joining a team of volunteers to assist with the administration of the collection of donated goods for resale in our local shops. Good telephone skills essential for this role.
Shifts available:
- All days available Monday to Friday
- Hours negotiable
- Corporate Volunteers
We are able to offer teams of corporate volunteers a chance to ‘take over’ a St Oswald’s shop for a day.
Teams collect as much stock as possible (before the big day) and then sort, price, steam, display and sell as much as they can on the day to raise money for the Hospice.
Times and Days negotiable, Monday to Saturday.
- Lymphoedema Volunteer
Would you be interested in assisting our Lymphoedema Nurses at the Main Hospice?
This role will involve direct patient contact however some basic admin/IT duties may also be required.
Shifts needed:
Wednesday morning - 9.00am - 12.30pm
Wednesday afternoon - 1.00pm - 4.30pm
(Or Wednesday all day - 9.00am - 4.30pm)
This role will require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- Bank Ward Helpers
We are looking for volunteers to cover for absences during the day, either morning or afternoon shifts - Monday to Friday on our Adult In-Patient Unit.
This role will involve you serving refreshments to our patients and visitors.
Shifts needed:
Morning shifts - 10am - 11.30am
Afternoon shifts - 1.15pm - 4pm
This role will require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- Collection Boxes Volunteer
Emptying collection boxes and counting money in preperation for banking. Candidates need to be numerate, happy to handle cash with an understanding of banking procedures.
Shifts needed:
2-4 hours one morning or one afternoon per week (excluding Friday)
This role will require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- Craft Volunteer
Based in our Focus on Living Centre, we are looking for more team members to help with craft activities with patients with varying needs in a palliative care environment. Craft experience is essential and teaching and/or working in a medical environment is an advantage but not essential.
Shifts needed:
Monday - 10am - 12pm
Thursday Morning - 10am - 12pm
Thursday Afternoon - 1pm - 3pm
All Day Thursday
This role will require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- Out-Patient Receptionist
To provide a Reception service within the Out-Patient Department. This role involves delivering a professional and welcoming reception service to patients with appointments. It will involve admin tasks and telephone calls, therefore candidates must be computer literate.
Shifts needed:
Monday Afternoon
This role will require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.