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
- Ward Helpers
Ward Helpers
We are looking for volunteers to make a regular weekly commitment on either a Friday morning shift or Friday afternoon shift to serve refreshments to our patients and their visitors. Ideally we need this to be a long-term ongoing commitment.
Times needed:
Friday morning shifts 10am - 11.30am
Frifay afternoon shifts 1.15pm - 4pm
Bank Ward Helpers
We are looking for volunteers to cover for absences during the day for morning and afternoon shifts to serve refreshments to our patients and their visitors. Ideally we need volunteers who can make a long-term ongoing commitment to this role
Times needed:
Morning shifts from 10am - 11:30am.
Afternoon shifts from 1:15pm - 4pm.
Afternoon Shifts needed Monday to Friday.
Morning Shifts needed Wednesday and Friday.
- Ambassadors
St Oswald's 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.
Times needed:
Times and days negotiable.
We are ideally looking for people from the North Tyneside and Gateshead areas but also welcome people from Newcastle, Northumberland, South Tyneside and North Durham
updated 31.07.2017
- Catering Volunteers
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.
Times needed:
Bank volunteers required.
updated 21.03.2018
- Complementary Therapists & Pets as Therapy
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.
Times needed:
1 day a week (Negotiable, Mon - Friday excluding Thursday) for a minimum of 4 hours.
updated 31.07.2017
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 needed:
Times and Days negotiable, but Friday morning or afternoon would be very welcome.
updated 31.07.2017
- Drivers and Driver's Assistants
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. Come and see the sights of the North East while making new friends and having a laugh!
Times needed:
- A variety of days are available. Typical start times would be 8am at our Kingston Park warehouse with a 3:30-4:00pm finish depending on route and traffic or, you can opt to do a half day (four hours).
If you are interested in becoming a Van Driver's Assistant volunteer please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.
For more information:
- Events Volunteers
Event volunteers
We are looking for friendly, outgoing, confident supporters to join us in delivering our many and varied events. For instance we provide a tent for our Great North Runners, our Christmas Market needs extra pairs of hands to make it happen, We promote our wedding favours and our new bridal shop at various wedding fairs. 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.
updated 31.07.2017
- Hairdressers
Hairdressers
Would you like to make someone feel good? Qualified hairdressers are required within our Day Hospice and In-Patient unit. We have a great new hairdressing salon, and want to increase usage.
Times needed:
- Maintainance Volunteers
Housekeeper
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.
Days and times negotiable.
- Retail & E-commerce Volunteers
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 an interest in the shop and raising money for a great cause, as well as 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.
Download Volunteering in St Oswald’s Shops Leaflet
If you are interested in becoming a shop volunteer please call 0191 246 9071, email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org or fill in our contact form.
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 are essential for this role.
Times needed:
All days available Monday-Friday, hours are negotiable.
updated 03.10.2017
Warehouse Volunteer
This role involves 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, and general housekeeping of front and back areas.
Times needed:
Opening hours 9am-4pm Monday to Saturday, various days and times available.
- Lymphoedema Clinic Volunteers
Would you be interested in assisting our Lymphoedema Nurses at the Main Hospice? This is a role with direct patient contact but some basic admin/IT duties may be required.
Shifts available:
Wednesday: 1.00pm-4.00pm
Friday morning: 9.00am-12.30pm
Friday afternoon: 1.00pm-4.30pm
OR
Friday (all day) 9.00am-4.30pm
- Patient Transport
Car Drivers
To provide a transport service for patients attending St Oswald’s for Focus on Living sessions, Day Hospice and Out-Patient Clinics and assisting with the transport of fundraising items during campaigns and patient related items. This is open to own car drivers (mileage paid). Full training given.
Shifts available:
Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.00pm
Days and times to be negotiated
Car Drivers (Weekend)
To provide a delivery and collection service of patient related items to/from the In-Patient Unit. This is open to own car drivers (mileage paid) or drivers using the St Oswald’s pool car. Full training given.
Shifts available:
May be a shared post on a rota basis – days to be negotiated
Sat 10am-12 noon
Sun 10am-12 noon – on standby at home
Bank Holidays 10am-12 noon – on standby at home
Minibus Drivers
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 available:
Monday - Friday 8.30am-5.00pm
Days and times to be negotiated.
Transport Administrator
To assist the Transport Co-ordinators in the day to day activities in providing a bespoke Transport Service to St Oswald’s patients. Excellent telephone manner and customer service skills required together with good IT skills
Shifts available:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9.30am-3.30pm
Days and times to be negotiated.
- Corporates and Support Services
Corporate Volunteer
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 (via a Donation Station if suitable) and then sort, price, steam, display and sell as much as they can on the day to raise money for the Hospice.
Dates and times needed: Flexible within shop opening hours.
updated 31.07.2017
- Clinical Admin Volunteer – Day Services
To assist the Day Services Team with taking minutes at the Lymphoedema MDT (Multi-disciplinary Team) meetings including updating the agenda with final additions. Must be computer literate and able to use Microsoft Word and must be able to take minutes either directly on a laptop or written and typed up. Being part of these meetings would mean being present during clinical discussions which may include pictures of wounds etc therefore the candidate would need to feel comfortable with this.
Shifts:
Wednesdays 8.45am-2.00pm – the meeting runs from 9.00am-12.00 – need time to do final preparations and complete minutes afterwards
