Volunteering at St Oswald's Hospice

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with St Oswald’s

We update this page with our current volunteering opportunities and role descriptions. If you’d like to apply for a role, please return your completed form to volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org.

Please note, we are only able to accept application forms specifically for the available volunteering opportunities shown on this page. If you’re still interested in volunteering but can’t find a suitable role today, please keep checking back for new opportunities soon.

Get prepared!

St Oswald’s Hospice is keen to recruit volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, to ensure that everybody has a chance to contribute to the development of our organisation and get valuable personal and professional experience along the way. Every volunteer application is followed up by an informal interview, during which staff aim to understand volunteer applicants’ skills, experience, achievements and motivations. You can find our informal interview questions as well as the volunteer journey below – we are hoping that providing this form ahead of time will give future volunteers the best opportunity to feel prepared and informed and to provide a warm, inclusive welcome.

Informal interview questions

Download the informal interview questions below.

People Charter for Volunteers

Download People Charter for Volunteers below.

Your Volunteer handbook

Download Volunteer handbook below.

Shaun the Sheep on the Tyne volunteering roles

Could you spare some time to volunteer to be part of Summer 2023’s most exciting mass participation art trail? We are on the lookout for volunteers to take on key roles to support the trail and St Oswald’s Hospice.

Retail staff at our shop with Shaun the Sheep

Shaun on the Tyne - HQ Shop and Information Assistant Volunteer

As a HQ Shop and Information Assistant, you will support Shaun the Sheep on the Tyne project team in the efficient daily running of the Shaun HQ by selling merchandise, assisting trail participants and represent and raise awareness of St Oswald’s Hospice to our local community.

Download Role description Apply now
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Shaun on the Tyne - Shepherd Trail-Maker Volunteer

As a Shepherd Trail-Maker, you will be the face of the flock and be out and about on the trail ready to welcome, inform and assist any visitors you may meet. You will also be our eyes and ears, on the lookout for any issues that may arise and be part of the team to ensure the smooth and successful running of the Shaun on the Tyne campaign.

Download Role description Apply now

Hospice volunteering roles

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Day Services Admin Volunteer

St Oswald’s Hospice Day Services include our specialist Lymphoedema Service, Outpatients Services and our Focus On Living Centre. We’re looking to expand our volunteer team and would love to hear from anyone with administrative experience and skill to share (or develop to boost your CV) to join the team as an Admin Volunteer in our Day Services.

Download role description Apply for Admin Volunteer (Day Services)
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Reception Volunteers (Various areas)

We’re looking to expand our volunteer team and would love to hear from anyone with administrative experience and skill to share (or develop to boost your CV) as a Reception Volunteer in our Day Services or Adult Inpatient Unit, to provide a warm welcome and effective reception service. We’re looking to involve volunteers across the week Monday to Friday and would love to hear from you!

Day Services Reception Volunteer

Download role description

Adult Inpatient Unit Reception Volunteer

Download role description

Apply for Reception Volunteer (Day Services) Apply for Reception Volunteer (Adult Inpatient Unit)
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Supporter Engagement Volunteer

Connecting with and thanking our wonderful supporters is a vital part of our Supporter Care Team – if you’re looking to develop and share your relationship building skills, this could be the volunteer role for you! You’ll spend time on the phone welcoming new supporters or chatting with existing supporters and making sure their information is up to date on our database. We’d love you to join our team!

We are currently recruiting two volunteers for this role.

Download role description Apply now
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Facilities Volunteer (Maintenance)

Our fantastic Facilities Team is looking for helping hands to support a wide variety of tasks right across the Hospice. If you’re a dab hand at DIY and have practical maintenance skills to share or develop, we’d love to hear from you! This role supports our friendly and busy team in keeping our clinical areas, offices and other spaces in good working order as a safe and welcoming place to be.

We are currently recruiting two volunteers for this role.

Download role description Apply now
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Gardening Volunteers

We’re looking to find some green-fingered volunteers to support the maintenance and development of our beautiful outdoor spaces. You’ll be involved in a variety of practical gardening tasks and we can discuss the weekdays and times that suit you – this role will suit someone with a keen interest and some gardening knowledge and experience. You’ll be playing a key part in creating safe and welcoming places for our patients and their families to enjoy.

If you have skills to share or are looking to develop your horticultural experience, we would love to hear from you!

Want to find out more about what the role is like?

Watch our video from Tom who talks about what he loves about being a gardening volunteer with St Oswald’s Hospice and what has kept him at the Hospice for 15 years!

Download Role Description Apply now
Lymphoedema Volunteers outside our Outpatient Suite
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Lymphoedema Volunteers

If you’re looking to gain hands-on experience for your studies or future career, or share your skills in patient care, we’d love to hear from you. Our Lymphoedema Volunteer role is based at our Hospice but involves delivering high standards of practical, personal and emotional support out in the community and in patient’s homes. You’ll work with our Lymphoedema staff team to deliver treatment and support the running of this highly specialist service. Current slots are:

  • Wednesday AM

Please note: Mornings 9am – 12pm, Afternoons 12:30pm – 4pm.

Want to find out more about what the role is like?

Watch our video to find out more! Jackie, Lymphoedema Specialist and Lou, Clinical Volunteering Coordinator and our wonderful Lymphoedema Volunteers Dawn and Rohan talk about what it’s like volunteering in the Lymphoedema Department and how St Oswald’s Hospice are trying to develop our volunteers with our joint volunteer to career opportunities project in partnership with Helpforce.

Download role description Apply now

Retail volunteering roles

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Shop Volunteer

Our fabulous shops are always looking to boost their volunteer power! You’ll be part of day to day shop life – customer service, processing donations and ensuring your retail space is inviting, organised and safe for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you see yourself creatively dressing windows, sorting and preparing stock, or front and centre behind the till, retail volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people, gain experience and skills for your CV and of course to generate income for our wonderful Hospice.

if you would like to apply or find out more information about the role, please email us below and state your preferred shop you would like to volunteer at (Find your local St Oswald’s shop here).

volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org
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Van Crew Volunteers

As our shops reopen and donations are flooding in, we’re on the lookout for Van Assistant volunteers to support our brilliant Drivers. You’ll be involved in house clearances, moving and handling of large household items and making collections and deliveries from our shops around the region.

Based either at Kingston Park or our Benfield site, this role would suit someone looking to enhance their logistics or retail CV by getting stuck into a physically demanding volunteer role in a friendly team. You’ll be based at either our Kingston Park or Benfield site and days optional Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm.

if you would like to apply or find out more information about the role, please email us below.

volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org
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Admin Volunteer (Retail Collection Line)

Our retail collection line is based at Kingston Park and provides a friendly and efficient service for members of the public who wish to donate goods via our collection line or arrange a house clearance. We’re looking for IT confident volunteers with admin skills to share (or develop) at our busy retail hub.

Download role description volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org