Volunteering

volunteer driving a buggy

Our dedicated volunteers support and help provide a better experience for anyone who might find themselves in hospital.

Volunteers play a vital and varied role in the delivery of exceptional care across UHDB, helping us to provide a better experience for anyone who might find themselves in our hospitals - whether that's welcoming and directing people to the correct departments and wards, providing our patients with beverages and nutrition on the wards or socialising with patients if they require company.

Volunteers are invaluable to our Trust, and we welcome anyone who wants to join and support within the following hospitals:

  • Royal Derby Hospital
  • Florence Nightingale Community Hospital
  • Queen's Hospital Burton
  • Samuel Johnson Community Hospital
  • Sir Robert Peel Hospital

Who can volunteer?

Anyone aged 16 and over who can commit to a minimum of six months or more of volunteering on a regular basis at least once a week. Our volunteering roles are based Monday - Friday, between 8am - 6.30pm.

What are the benefits?

  • Celebratory events throughout the year
  • free refreshment on duty
  • uniform
  • joining a network of other volunteers
  • personal satisfaction
  • enhancing patient experience
  • travel expenses (discussed at recruitment)

Types of volunteering roles available

  • mealtime support
  • meet and greet visitors/patients within the hospital
  • hand therapy for patients and staff
  • patient buggy/tandem drivers
  • non-clinical support in departments and wards
  • Macmillan information hub
  • staff wellbeing
  • visit wards with the art cart and provide activity packs
  • become a Patient Safety Partners (PSP), to influence and improve safety within our hospitals. For more information, please access the Patient Safety Partners page >
  • pets as therapy
  • shop and tea bar   

Student mealtime programme

If you are a student aged 16 and over, you may be able to apply for our student mealtime project. This involves supporting the ward team at mealtime, by assisting the catering team distribute meals and encouraging/assisting patient feeding between 11.30am - 1.30pm or 4.30pm - 6.30pm after school or college.

Requirements

  • You must be aged 16 and over to enrol in the program.
  • You must show an interest in helping people and want to make a positive difference.
  • You must have the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people.
  • Be willing to commit to a minimum of 26 sessions of volunteering to complete the program, this would be one day a week between October to May.
  • Be able to provide identification for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to volunteer within the hospitals - please see DBS section in FAQ below.
  • You must attend the set student training day and complete eLearning modules online or attend a face-to-face induction on a set date to complete mandatory training.

Recruitment for this program takes place in June/July. Training will commence from September - November. This program is a minimum of 26 sessions and will take approximately six months to complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I need to volunteer for?

We are looking for a commitment with volunteers within our hospitals, and we would require a minimum of six months, but welcome everyone to stay longer. We celebrate our long service awards each year where we recognise and thank our volunteers' years of service within the Trust and have awards ranging from five years to 50 years of voluntary service.


What is the recruitment process?

Once you have signed up to our database and applied, you will receive an email regarding out latest volunteering vacancies. From there you can apply and could get shortlisted for an interview.

If successful, we would complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and an occupational health questionnaire. From here you will attend a Trust induction and a starter appointment.


What do I need for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check?

You will need to provide several ID documents, such as a valid UK passport, driving licence and council tax statement. When going through the recruitment process, we will advise on options if these are not available.

If you are under the age of 18, please be aware that you will need to provide similar ID, so please make sure you have at least three of the below in place before applying (photo ID is essential):

  • valid UK passport
  • for non-UK passport holders, you will need a share code
  • provisional or full driver's license
  • bank statement
  • National Insurance (NI) number letter
  • letter from the Head of your school stating your name, address and date of birth.


How long does the recruitment process take?

If successful after interview, the recruitment process usually takes one month to complete, depending on induction dates and DBS clearance.

Volunteers' news

Long Service awards volunteers 2024
Long standing volunteers celebrated for their contribution at special award ceremony

Long standing volunteers from across all UHDB sites who have dedicated their time to helping patients, visitors and colleagues have been honoured at a special ceremony....

Rita at UHDB's RDH entrance
UHDB volunteer Rita looks back at her 50 years at the Trust for NHS 75

Long standing volunteers who have given a combined total of 460 years of their time to helping others across UHDB have been honoured at a special ceremony. The volunteers, whose service spans from ...

Aymen Boud handed an award for voluntary work
Teen cadet who volunteered on End of Life ward receives award from TV star

An "exceptional and dedicated" teenager, who volunteered his time to help patients receiving end of life care at UHDB, has been given an award in recognition of his efforts. Aymen Boud, w...

Student volunteers recognised for their excellence
Student volunteers recognised for their excellence

We were delighted to celebrate UHDB and League of Friends volunteers recently, in a ceremony that recognised our dedicated volunteers that have supported the Trust. We were also able to recognise our ...