Volunteering

By volunteering you can learn new skills, make new friends and achieve satisfaction from giving something back.

Our volunteers generously share their enthusiasm, experience and skills with every department within the Hospice - we simply couldn't do what we do without them. Our wonderful volunteers work with patients, in our offices, on the road, in our retail shops, at events and in our community.

See our current opportunities

Why volunteer?

By volunteering, you can learn new skills, make new friends and achieve satisfaction from giving something back. We provide practical on-the-job training, health and safety training and a place on our induction course which introduces you to the work of St Oswald’s.

We have over 120 different volunteering roles: working directly with patients; in support roles; in our shops or with our Fundraising team. Our volunteers also represent St Oswald’s in their own communities, as vital advocates of our work in the North East.

Every volunteer has a line manager and is also supported by our Volunteering Department. We also provide travel expenses for your journey to and from your volunteer role.

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Ward Helpers at St Oswald's Hospice
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Our Values

We also have a set of Values for all our staff and volunteers. Our Values are our core beliefs, they explain who we are, how we work, what we believe in and stand for. They reflect our culture here at St Oswald’s Hospice. Our Values are:

  • Caring and Compassionate
  • Accountable and Authentic
  • Positive and Can Do
  • Excellence and Innovation
  • Safe and Supportive
View our Values and People Charter

Current volunteering opportunities

Take a look at our current opportunities and see if there are any you would like to apply for.

We can’t wait to have you on board!

See our current opportunities

Volunteer to Career

Volunteer to Career is the ideal way to find out if a career in Health and Social Care is right for you. Those who sign up to become a clinical volunteer as part of the pathway will be supported by an expert team of clinicians and mentors and will have access to a range of learning and development opportunities.

Find out more

Volunteer as a business or group

There are a variety of ways your business or group can support St Oswald’s Hospice to care for babies, children, young people and adults who need hospice care and we would love to have your support.

Volunteer as a group

Don't just take our word for it...

"I’ve really enjoyed my time volunteering so far, St Oswald’s has such a family feel and I always feel so welcome. There’s a lot to gain from being a volunteer, such as building up good communication skills with a variety of people. It’s a great way to understand the work that hospices do and how they have such a positive impact on the patients they look after."

Molly Clark, Lymphoedema Volunteer

Don't just take our word for it...

"I really enjoy volunteering in the shop, there are so many varied tasks to do and serving the customers is always a pleasure, especially when you see that they know they have just bought something amazing at a great price. There are similarities in the roles in that I’m dealing with people but volunteering in the shop is an opportunity to get out and meet people face to face and have some sort of social interaction."

Jackie Bland, Retail Volunteer

Don't just take our word for it...

“I thoroughly enjoy helping out in any way I can, I always have such a laugh with the other volunteers and staff. Everyone at the Hospice is exceptional, they are really marvellous people who make you want to donate your time. During my first visit I was sitting in the Chapel when the Chaplain came to chat to me. She said that it took special people to work or volunteer at a Hospice as we were all here for the wellbeing of the patients. That’s still so true thirty years on, which is why I’ve continued to volunteer for so long."

Terry, Volunteer