Volunteer for your local hospice

The minimum age for volunteering in hospice-based role is 18.

We welcome volunteers from the age of 16 in our shops.

There is no upper age limit for volunteering with the hospice. Provided you are able to carry out the role effectively you can volunteer for us.

When you start as a volunteer you will be issued with a new starter pack containing all the information that you will need regarding the hospice and your new volunteer role.

You will also receive on the role training alongside a member of staff or another experienced volunteer, depending on the department. In some cases, such as Bereavement Counselling, there is the requirement to complete a more in-depth training programme before undertaking your new role.

Every new volunteer is also required to complete on-line mandatory training relevant to your role. This should be completed when you start and refreshed at regular intervals. Mandatory training covers areas such as Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity and Infection Control. Mandatory training is designed to ensure you, along with our patients and visitors are kept safe, as well as meeting our health and safety and regulatory requirements.

By becoming a volunteer, you will be offering your valuable time and we like to ensure that is treated respectfully. Each role is different, and some areas operate on a more ad hoc basis such as fundraising events and raffle ticket sales. In most cases a new volunteer will carry out one ‘shift’ per week that will usually last a few hours.

We try to make arrangements that work best both for the volunteer and the hospice.

Once you have identified a suitable volunteering opportunity, please complete an application form on our current volunteering opportunities page or you can request a paper application form if you prefer. Consideration will be given to each application received.

Your application will be reviewed and should your application be successful, you will be invited to attend a volunteer interview, this will usually be face to face, but interviews can also take place over the telephone or virtually.

If we do not feel your application is suitable for opportunities at Eden Valley Hospice, we will discuss this with you, and where appropriate, signpost you to other suitable organisations.

The hospice is committed to recruiting volunteers without discrimination and all applications will be considered individually in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Following a successful initial meeting, the People Services team will commence pre volunteering checks. These consist of:

• Two references (for retail roles, one reference may be acceptable)
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (subject to the volunteering role)
• Photo identification (for example passport/driving licence)
• Relevant qualifications (where applicable)
• Professional Registration (where applicable)
• Driving and vehicle information check (where applicable)

This list is not exhaustive and other pre-volunteering checks may be required subject to the role.

Everyone is different and the reality of being in an environment supporting individuals living with a life limiting illness after you have been bereaved may be different to what you imagine.

This is something to consider before you apply and you can discuss this with one of the People Services Team.

New volunteer applicants that have been recently closely bereaved, may be asked to wait before becoming a volunteer.

Some roles, such as those with direct patient contact may require the candidate to wait longer, this is at the discretion of the hospice.

There are a range of different roles at the hospice and you may want to think about volunteering in a different environment initially, for example volunteering for our fundraising team or our charity shops.

Yes, we would love to hear from anyone that is interested in volunteering, including if you are living with a disability.

Yes, if you are applying for asylum or have refugee status, you can volunteer at the hospice.

As well as offering a rewarding and meaningful experience, which provides invaluable support to the hospice, you will:

• Receive access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which offers 24-7 confidential support, including counselling, health and wellbeing and legal support.
• Be invited to regular “volunteer catch up” events and annual “thank you” events
• Receive access to discount schemes
• Receive quarterly volunteer newsletters to keep you up to date with hospice up-dates and developments
• Make new connections and friends

Please contact the People Services Team on 01228 810801 Or email your query to peopleservices@edenvalleyhospice.org