Current volunteering opportunities

Would you like to join St Oswald's brand new retail events team volunteering on an ad-hoc basis and supporting us at various events that we attend across the North East?

Our friendly retail team loves to get out and about meeting our supporters and showcasing the best products that we sell in our charity shops.

Some of the events we attend include crafting fayres, Christmas markets, animal shows, county fayres and St Oswald's own events too.

We're on the lookout for friendly and helpful people who might be interested in working with the public, supporting us at events, helping us to sell products and talk about the work of St Oswald's.

This is a perfect role for someone interested in volunteering but who cannot necessarily commit to a regular role. This is a brilliant role where you can really make a difference, have fun, work alongside our friendly retail team and help raise money and awareness for St Oswald's.

Interested? Contact our retail helpdesk on 0191 246 8123, or email: retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org for more information. 

Ward Helpers

We are looking for volunteers to cover a regular weekly shift serving refreshments to our patients and visitors on the In-patient Unit. Ideally we need volunteerswho can make a long-term ongoing commitment to this role. 

Shifts needed:

Monday afternoon

Wednesday afternoon

Afternoon shifts from 1:15pm - 4pm.

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.

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:

• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am - 2pm.

• Bank volunteers also required.

Hospice based roles are open to anyone aged 16 and above.

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:

• Friday AM and PM

Hospice based roles are open to anyone aged 16 and above.

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 Van Driver's Assistant please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.

For more information:

Download our Van Driver's Assistant leaflet 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Hospice based roles are open to anyone aged 16 and above.

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)

Hospice based roles are open to anyone aged 16 and above.

We are developing a team of local car owner drivers to provide transport of specimens/prescriptions/drugs for our In-patient Unit to and from local hospitals and pharmacies to cover weekends and Bank Holidays.

Full training and mileage paid.

Shifts available:

Saturdays - Attend Hospice 10.30am-12.30pm

Sundays/Bank Holidays -standby at home 10.30am-12.30pm

If you would like to find out more about this role please contact Karen Toker on 0191 2469056 (direct line).

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

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.

To provide a transport service using St Oswald’s vehicles for patients attending St Oswald’s Focus on Living Sessions, Day Hospice and Out-Patient Clinics and assisting with the transport of fundraising items during campaigns and patient related items. Full training given.

Shifts needed:

Tuesday am/pm

Wednesday am/pm

Thursday am/pm

This role will require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

Could you help our innovative upcycling Re-styled shop by supporting the team with their digital activites and helping to promote the shop and their fabulous products to an online audience?

This role will involve; taking photographs and videos using digital software, editing digital content, helping to look after the shop's social media accounts, creating and scheduling engaging social media posts, working to promote the events and products of the Re-styled shop.

This is a rare and exciting volunteering opportunity to help raise awareness and promote the work of the Re-styled shop whilst gaining invaluable digital and I.T experience.

Somebody with experience of or interest in digital content and operating social media channels would be preferred, but all applicants will be considered.

Download the role specification here

If you are interested in this role please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.

We have a brilliant new opening to join our fantastic eBay team. Our eBay team is the fastest growing part of St Oswald’s retail function and has recently won a charity award for E-Commerce Business of the Year at the 2019 Hospice UK Retail Awards.

In this fast paced role, you will help us to package and distribute our online eBay orders to customers and to liaise with couriers to ensure the delivery of these parcels.

Full training will be provided but applicants with some experience of manual handling and organising the distribution of deliveries would be preferred.

Download the role specification here

If you are interested in this role please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.

We have a brilliant new opening to join our fantastic eBay team. Our eBay team is the fastest growing part of St Oswald’s retail function and has recently won a charity award for E-Commerce Business of the Year at the 2019 Hospice UK Retail Awards.

Do you have a passion for photography and could you help photograph our stock to help us sell more goods and maximise sales?

Applicants who are interested in photography and have some photograph editing skills are encouraged to apply.

Download the role specification here

If you are interested in this role please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.

We have an exciting opportunity in our Spiritual Care team to help with our new Befriending Project, which involves committing to visiting a St Oswald’s patient in their own home for 2-3 hours per week to provide companionship and support, as well as respite for carers. This may include chatting with the patient or visiting local amenities, cafes or shops. Bespoke training and ongoing support will be given. There may also be the opportunity to take part in our exciting new venture working with people with dementia, using Namaste techniques, again full training and support will be given.

Shifts needed:

Flexibility over times and days

If you would like to find out more please contact Alan white or Carole Taylor on 0191 2850063 Ext 2021 or 2082

We are looking for local car owner drivers to be approached on an ad hoc basis.

Full training and mileage paid.

Shifts needed:

Mon-Fri - 3pm-6pm