Volunteer with the Northumbria Volunteer Service (NVS) We have over 350 volunteers…
Northumbria Healthcare is an integral part of our local community, and we are fortunate to have a large ‘family’ of volunteers who dedicate their time to our NHS trust.
We have around 350 volunteers who tirelessly and generously give their time to services for patients and visitors. They are greatly valued across the trust, so we are delighted to have become the first trust in the North East to achieve the investing in volunteers (IiV) quality standard in October 2020.
A range of important roles
Our volunteers perform a range of important roles, from ‘meeting and greeting’ patients and visitors at our hospital entrances, to going around the wards with the sweet trolley. They may also help out with patients on the ward, providing assistance at mealtimes to those patients who need it, and talking to stroke patients to aid their recovery by helping them practice and gain confidence.
It’s a great way to make new friends and give something back to our community.
Please join our wonderful team and provide an even better healthcare experience for the population of Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Benefits of being a volunteer
We’re incredibly proud of our volunteers and we recognise and celebrate the work they do throughout the year. As a way of saying thank you, we hold volunteering evenings where volunteers can socialise and get to know each other. During National Volunteering Week in June each year, our volunteers are at the centre stage as we acknowledge the important contribution they have made to our patients and staff throughout the year.
We also hold a prestigious annual Long Service Awards ceremony to pay tribute to the volunteers who have given their time generously. Also, in our annual Northumbria staff awards ceremony we have our own volunteering category.
NVS volunteers are also provided with on-going support and opportunities to learn and develop new skills. As well as being able to access a wide range of training courses delivered by the trust, our volunteers are invited to a trust induction day, welcoming them to the Northumbria family.
Being part of the NVS offers a number of opportunities and benefits including:
- Giving something back.
- Using your spare time to do something purposeful.
- Putting a smile on someone’s face.
- Improving your health and well-being.
- Enhancing personal and professional skills and learning new ones.
- Enhancing and exploring career options.
- Meeting new people and making friends.
- Being part of an award-winning team.
- It’s a great way to make new friends.
Opportunities
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer at Northumbria with different roles available, and new ones always in development. These roles are central to helping us respond to our service needs and demands. We strive to place our volunteers in a role which best suits skill sets and strengths and will enable personal and professional development.
Each hospital has different activities and roles, such as:
- Meet and greet service
- Volunteer shop/café
- Ward-based volunteers.
- Outpatients
- Wellbeing volunteers
- Sweet trolley
- Music in hospital
- Fundraising
- Healing arts – helping to look after our healing arts exhibitions in hospitals
We work in partnership with many support groups such as Chaplaincy, Macmillan, League of Friends and Hospital Radio. Please give us a call for more information
How to apply
We’d love to hear from anyone, over the age of 16, who is interested in becoming a volunteer. We can give you all of the information you need to help you make the best decision for you. We would also love to hear from organisations who would be interested in our corporate volunteering.
After applying to become a volunteer, there are a number of processes to complete, such as supplying two references, completing a disclosure and barring service check and an occupational health check. These are important as we protect our patients in the same way we protect you.
As the process can often take a few weeks, it is for this reason that, sadly, we are unable to offer short-term work experience placements.
Please complete the application form and return to volunteers@northumbria.nhs.uk
If you have any queries or would like to know more about volunteering, please call 0191 203 1354.
FAQ’s
We offer volunteer opportunities for ages 16+.
Yes, you can buddy up as a volunteer. When applying to volunteer simply make a note on your application form who you would like to buddy up with.
You don’t have to have any previous experience working in a hospital to take part in volunteering.
We ask that all volunteers contribute a minimum of 100 hours. These hours can be spread out and flexible around you.
We do not currently offer short term work placements within the charity. Please email workexperience@northumbria.nhs.uk with your enquiry.
Simply complete one of our applications forms and send to us at volunteers@northumbria.nhs.uk . You will then be invited for an interview and an induction training session ahead of starting your role.
You can include a current or previous employer or use a character reference such as a Neighbour, landlord or teacher but should not include a family member.
Most visas allow volunteering, although some may have restrictions on the number of hours you can volunteer. If you are not sure, please contact the UK Border Agency.
All volunteers will receive a DBS check following applying to volunteer.
Yes, we will cover any travel expenses once you start volunteering. All our volunteers also receive a free hot drink when volunteering in our hospitals.
Yes all training is provided at induction and covers some mandatory training within the health service including Fire Safety, Infection Control training and Safeguarding.