Volunteering

Whether you would like to give something back to your community, make new friends, enhance your skills, or learn something about a career in the NHS – there are so many benefits to volunteering with us.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and represent the diverse communities we serve. But they all share a passion to improve patient experience and use their free time to help others and support the NHS.

We expect all our volunteers to live our values and support the Trust strategy.

Volunteers are amazing!

In 2023, our volunteers gave more than 11,500 hours to support our staff, patients, and wider Trust.

We are always looking for ways to improve and develop our volunteer service, as we recognise the positive impact volunteers have on those they meet.

Watch our video to learn more about the opportunities we offer, and the difference our volunteers make.

PALS Volunteer Video

If you cannot see the video, Watch on YouTube

Volunteer roles

Your role will be based on your availability, preferences and interests, as well as where support is needed across the Trust.

Roles are rotated, so you will always have opportunities to experience different teams and meet new staff and patients.

We have many different opportunities available, which offer the chance to gain fantastic experience of supporting different wards and departments across our Trust.

You can gain a wide range of skills, as well as insight into the different professions and careers within the NHS.

Volunteering at RWT is diverse, and no day has to be the same. Here are just some of the activities you could support:

Our wards: speaking to patients, delivering drinks, cleaning duties, helping to serve food
Our ward admin: transporting documents, answering calls, dealing with queries, scanning and printing
Activities: playing games with patients, painting nails, supporting exercise
Patients over the phone (befriending)
Patients and visitors with directions

Volunteering is available in many areas across our Trust sites. We are always developing new opportunities with our staff, so there are lots of ways to get involved.

Examples of where you could be based:

Heart and Lung Centre
cardiac rehabilitation
stroke ward
discharge lounge
emergency department

How does volunteering benefit me?

Volunteers are vital to our Trust and help us to ensure staff and patients are supported during difficult times.

It is equally important that our volunteers feel happy, safe, respected, and supported during their time with us.

You will:

make a difference to the lives of patients, staff and visitors
meet new people, socialise, and make new friends
be a valued member of our team
build experience in a healthcare environment
develop skills, knowledge, and confidence
learn how your skills can be transferred
develop interpersonal and social skills by networking and making connections
gain an insight into career opportunities

We will:

provide the right training to equip you for your role
provide support, supervision, and feedback
listen to your opinions
offer clear and honest communication
recognising and celebrate your achievements
respect your skills, experiences, and preferences
champion your personal and professional development
provide career support, advice, and guidance
ensure that our decisions are equal and inclusive
provide a safe and enjoyable workplace

Meet the team

Our team is on hand to support the recruitment, training, and development of our volunteers.

We are part of the Patient Experience Team, and we proudly work in collaboration with Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

Ashleigh Key
Volunteering Coordinator

Kerry Fletcher
Patient experience Officer

Contact us

Location C4 Chaplaincy (first office on the left)
New Cross Hospital
Wolverhampton Road
Wolverhampton
WV10 0QQ

Tel: 01902 307999 Ext: 88763 or 07500 974526
Email: rwh-tr.volunteering@nhs.net

How to apply

We recruit cohorts of volunteers at set points during the year.

If you would like to register your interest, please email rwh-tr.volunteering@nhs.net with your:

name
email address
contact number

We can then let you know when applications open and provide further information.

FAQs

If you have any questions about volunteering across our hospital and community sites, you may find the answer below. Please email or call us if you have any further queries.

What time commitment is required?

Do you offer work experience?

Volunteering is not the same as work experience. We only recruit to specific roles and ask for a minimum of six months’ commitment to the role. The volunteering team will not recruit you as a work experience placement student and are not permitted to sign any documents that confirm work experience placements. Find out more about work experience.

Will I need to provide references and have a DBS check to volunteer?

All prospective volunteers will be asked to provide a professional reference (from a teacher if you are at school/college, or employer if employed). You will need to have an enhanced DBS check – we will take you through this process and provide you with more information after your interview stage, as well as support with references.

Do I get expenses paid?

Yes, we can pay mileage or travel expenses. Free onsite parking is also available to all volunteers (subject to an application for a parking permit). Please note, we cannot pay expenses for taxis, bus passes, or train tickets. You also must have business insurance on your car insurance policy to claim mileage expenses.

Do I require any health checks to volunteer with patients?

Yes – you will be asked to complete a health self-declaration and a health assessment questionnaire. Evidence of vaccinations may also be required to work in specific areas, such as our emergency department. We take our volunteers’ safety and wellbeing seriously, which will help us ensure that you are being deployed safely.

What training will I receive?

After your recruitment checks have been completed, you will receive your offer letter and email, as well as your log in details for the My Academy portal. My Academy is the online portal where volunteers and staff are required to complete all compulsory training modules. You will have a local induction led by us, where we will go through your role as a volunteer and other information outlined in your volunteer handbook.

What skills will I gain?

You will gain many skills, but the most common are communication and interpersonal skills, confidence, and resilience. You will also experience a busy healthcare environment, working with lots of different staff members.

How long will it take from submitting my application to starting volunteering?

As volunteers are recruited through a similar process to staff, this can take six to eight weeks. This also depends on applicants completing their paperwork promptly and a DBS check being completed quickly. There could be delays caused by the DBS check or any further health checks needed before you start. We will always communicate this with you.

We will explain every step of the process to you, but please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Will you be able to provide me with a reference for future jobs?

Entry criteria

If you are considering applying, please ensure that you meet our entry requirements:

You must be 16 years of age or older
You must have the right to work in the UK
You must be able to meet the requirements of the role
You will need to have an email address