Current volunteering opportunities

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:

• Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 2pm.

• Bank volunteers also required.

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.

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:

Download our Volunteer 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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.