Volunteering

Voluneteer talking to patient

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer?

Do you want to help your local hospital or gain experience in a hospital setting?

Do you want to give your time supporting the NHS?

We are looking for volunteers to help us across the hospital in roles which support clinical staff and patients in a variety of ways. Our volunteers help us to go above and beyond, to boost the care given by staff and improve patient experience.

If you have ever visited or stayed at Derriford Hospital the chances are you will have encountered one of our brilliant volunteers.

You may have been directed by a Meet & Greet volunteer, received a cup of tea from an Emergency Department volunteer, bought something in one of our Leagues of Friends’ shops, or simply listened to Hospital Radio.

Two smiling Rehab Legend volunteers

What's in it for you?

As a Trust volunteer you’ll gain a unique insight into hospital life and get the satisfaction of helping your local NHS and giving back to your community, as well as being a valuable part of our #1BigTeam.

You will learn new skills and receive relevant training (both of which will be great for your CV or life experience), including the opportunity to gain the National Volunteer Certificate, accredited by Health Education England.

If you're looking for a job in healthcare, join our Volunteer to Career programme which boosts your employability, provides you with careers advice and focused support to help get you into work or further education.

In return we ask you to be reliable, committed and attend regularly (every 1-2 weeks) for at least six months. Our minimum age for roles is 16 unless specified, but we have no upper age limit.

We celebrate our volunteers' achievements every day, and especially during Volunteers' Week each June. You can see what we got up to during Volunteers' Week 2023 here: Volunteers' Week Summary 2023.pdf[pdf] 7MB.

View our current opportunities and apply

When you apply, you will need:

Identification
1 x photo ID e.g. a passport or driver's licence
1 x proof of address e.g. a bank statement or utility bill from within the last 3 months
Two references
The names and contact details of two people over 18 who have known you for more than 6 months, who are not related to you, and who would be happy to answer a few questions about you.
To keep an eye out for updates
We'll update you when each step of the recruitment process is complete so watch out for any emails from us.
Plenty of enthusiasm!

Please note: we can't accept applications for general volunteering and unfortunately, due to demand, we're not able to accept everyone who applies. We will make every effort to match your experience, interests and availability to our current vacancies.

Please only apply for one role at a time - if you're interested in multiple roles or you're unsure which is best for you, we can discuss this after your application has been submitted.

For any questions, please contact plh-tr.volunteerenquiry@nhs.net .

To see what we've been up to recently, check out our Twitter @VolunteeringUHP.

How do I become a volunteer?

1. Decide which role appeals to you (we have more than 30 options to choose from!) and complete an application form.

2. Attend a selection meeting with a member of the Voluntary Services Team.

3. If you are selected for the role, we will request two references, health clearance from our occupational health team and, for most roles, completion of a full Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

4. Once all checks are cleared, you will undertake some mandatory training and induction at the hospital where you will pick up your polo shirt, ID badge and meet the team.

Sonia & Bridgettee in ED dressed as Easter bunnies Volunteers Week 2023, ED Group