Youth opportunities

Working towards your Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Award? You can complete the volunteering section of your award with Bright.

Join our hospital volunteer team and help support patients, visitors and staff across Northumberland and North Tyneside.

Depending on the roles we have available, you could:

• Welcome patients and visitors as a meet and greet volunteer.
• Support our hospital shops and cafés.
• Spend time chatting with patients as a ward befriender.
• Volunteer remotely by running your own fundraising event

Along the way, you can develop communication and teamwork skills, build confidence and make a meaningful contribution to your local community.

Discover what it’s like to volunteer in an NHS hospital and play your part in making a difference to people’s experiences of healthcare.

Our volunteering opportunities include:

• Meet and greet: Welcome patients and visitors and help them find their way around.
• Ward befriending: Offer conversation, companionship and a friendly face to patients.
• Hospital shops and cafés: Support our volunteer-run shops and cafés, helping generate funds for Bright Charity.
• Sweet trolley: Help bring refreshments and everyday essentials to patients on hospital wards.

Volunteering is an opportunity to gain practical experience, meet new people and develop transferable skills that can support your future education and career.

Our regular volunteer opportunities are open to people aged 16 and over, subject to the requirements of the role.

Want to support your local NHS charity but need an opportunity that fits around your studies, commitments or circumstances?

Our Fundraising Volunteer role offers a flexible, remote way to get involved with Bright Northumbria Healthcare Charity. You can help support our fundraising efforts and make a difference to patients, families and staff across our local hospitals, without needing to be based on-site.

Whether you are looking to gain experience, develop new skills or support a cause you care about, fundraising volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact.Find out more about fundraising volunteering.

Thinking about a future in the NHS, health and care, or another area of work?

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust offers work experience and careers-related opportunities to help people explore different roles and learn more about working in healthcare.

These opportunities can help you understand the range of careers available, from clinical roles to administration, support services and other non-clinical professions.

For work experience enquiries, contact the Trust’s work experience team to find out about available opportunities and eligibility.

By joining our volunteering team, you can:

• Make a positive difference to patients, visitors and staff.
• Develop communication, teamwork and customer service skills.
• Build confidence and independence.
• Gain experience in a healthcare environment.
• Meet new people and become part of your local community.
• Explore interests and skills that could help with future education or employment.

Explore the opportunities above and find out which one is right for you.

For regular hospital volunteering opportunities, visit our volunteering page or contact the volunteer team for advice on the application process.

If you need help or advise reach out to the Bright team via our contact details:

volunteers@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk