Volunteer With Us
Our volunteers are honoured members of our Hospice team, and their generous gifts of time and skills make what we do possible.
Everyone who volunteers with us brings a unique insight and diverse set of skills. And contribute immeasurably to the support we offer those in our community living alongside a serious or terminal illness.
Through volunteering they have fun, gain new experiences and make friends, all while knowing they’re making a real difference to local people.
We have a range of volunteering opportunities available to people aged 14 and up. Including:
- At our charity shops across Hillingdon
- At events supporting the Hospice
- Through office assistance
- Through gardening at our sites in Northwood and Harlington
- Inside the Inpatient Unit at Michael Sobell House
- Cheering Harlington Hospice participants at running events
- At our retail warehouse
- Driving to pick up donated goods
Whatever your experience and whatever your interests, we’re sure there’s a role for you where you will gain as much as you give.
If you’d like to join us or learn more, we’d love to hear from you. Please email volunteer@harlingtonhospice.org or please phone us:
Retail roles: 0203 909 0447
All other roles: 0208 106 9207
What our volunteers say:
“I really enjoy the opportunity to not only care for those at Michael Sobell but also to learn from my experience and the excellent team there.” – Student Volunteer on our Inpatient Unit at Michael Sobell House
“Being accepted as a volunteer is a gift that I received from the Hospice. You gave me a chance to give something back after you cared for my beloved Mum in her final months. Personally, the Hospice has given me new friends, respected colleagues and a chance to make a difference. We are very fortunate to be part of a very special place.” – Volunteer on our Inpatient Unit at Michael Sobell House
Volunteer at our Hospice buildings
Requirements and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- A minimum of three hours per week:
- Monday – Friday, from 9am to 1pm or 1pm to 4.30pm
- Saturday – Sunday, from 10am to 2pm
- Meet and greet visitors on reception (this includes people coming to us who are living with a serious or terminal illness and those close to them)
- Process telephone calls, with a helpful, friendly and professional manner. Taking accurate messages and relaying them to the appropriate member of staff.
- Deal with tasks in the Communication Book. Updating the book accordingly and documenting the time of admission for people being supported at Michael Sobell House and on our Inpatient Unit.
- Inform relevant members of staff when someone being supported by us has arrived and provide hospitality when required.
- Support with data input and validation onto palliative care systems, as required.
- Support the Operational Manager and multi disciplinary team with tasks to include: photocopying, typing and general office duties as required.
- Inform relevant staff when a client has arrived, and provide hospitality when required.
- Support with data input and validation onto palliative care systems as required.
- Maintain privacy and strict confidentiality of patient information at all times.
Skills and Personal Qualities:
- Welcoming, courteous and friendly.
- Honest and trustworthy.
- Excellent communication and personable skills.
- Flexible, adaptable and willing to take on tasks as required.
- Reliable and committed.
- Non-judgemental and accepting of people as individuals, respecting their differences.
- Computer literate.
Full training for reception volunteers will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at our Michael Sobell House reception, please contact our Michael Sobell House Office Manager by emailing, dpotter@harlingtonhospice.org
Requirements and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- A minimum of four hours per week:
- Monday – Friday, from 9am to 5pm
- Meet and greet visitors on reception
- Process telephone calls, with a helpful, friendly and professional manner. Taking accurate messages and relaying them to the appropriate member of staff.
- Receive deliveries on reception, notifying relevant members of staff on arrival.
- Keep the reception environment and foyer area tidy and presentable.
- Ensure adequate office supplies are available and notify staff when item stocks are low.
- Support the Operational Manager and multi disciplinary team with tasks to include: photocopying, typing and general office duties as required.
- Inform relevant staff when a client has arrived, and provide hospitality when required.
- Support with data input and validation onto palliative care systems as required.
- Maintain privacy and strict confidentiality of patient information at all times.
Skills and Personal Qualities:
- Welcoming, courteous and friendly.
- Honest and trustworthy.
- Excellent communication and personable skills.
- Flexible, adaptable and willing to take on tasks as required.
- Reliable and committed.
- Non-judgemental and accepting of people as individuals, respecting their differences.
- Computer literate.
Full training for reception volunteers will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at our Lansdowne House reception, please contact our Lansdowne House Office Manager by emailing, kunderwood@harlingtonhospice.org
As a volunteer on our Inpatient Unit (IPU) at Michael Sobell House you will contribute to the day to day running of our IPU.
Our IPU volunteers are core members of our team who ensure that for everyone who is staying with us their time is spent in a comfortable, caring, and warm environment.
Requirements and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Three to four hours per shift a week.
- Welcoming visitors and directing them around the IPU.
- Distributing menus and assisting patients to make thier meal choices.
- Serving meals, snacks and drinks to people staying with us and their visitors.
- Collecting of crockery and cutlery after meals, rinsing them and keeping the kitchenette and café areas tidy.
- Keeping those who are staying with us company; chatting with them, reading to them, or assisting them in recreational activities if appropriate.
- Utilising a particular skill, for example bring a musical instrument to entertain, if there is time.
- Provide reception cover.
Skills and Personal Qualities:
- Trustworthy and reliable.
- Excellent Communications Skills
- Strong interpersonal skills, to deal with a diverse range of people.
- Good organisational skills.
- A flexible and non-judgemental approach to people and work.
- Enjoy working as part of a team.
Full training will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at our Inpatient Unit at Michael Sobell House, please contact our Michael Sobell House Office Manager by emailing, dpotter@harlingtonhospice.org
Our Wellbeing service is an important aspect of the care and support we offer. We offer a wide range of wellbeing activities and complementary therapies, often determined by the skills and knowledge of our volunteers and staff.
Responsibilities:
- Provide Complementary Therapy sessions for people living with a serious or terminal illness who are being supported by us.
- Assist during our Creative Arts for Wellbeing sessions.
We are incredibly proud of our beautiful gardens at Michael Sobell House and Lansdowne House. They offer people living with a serious or terminal illness who come to us, and those close to them, an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Our incredible team of gardening volunteers work all year to maintain these very special places. And run our Michael Sobell House Annual Plant Sale.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer in our gardens at Michael Sobell House please get in touch with our Michael Sobell House Office Manager by emailing, dpotter@harlingtonhospice.org
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer in our gardens at Lansdowne House please get in touch with our Lansdowne House Office Manager by emailing, kunderwood@harlingtonhospice.org
Volunteer with our Retail Team
Our Retail Team is an important aspect of the fundraising activities we do to continue providing our invaluable support to people living alongside an illness. We are always looking for more volunteers to join our vibrant and compassionate Retail Team. There are lots of ways you can volunteer with this team, from working in one of our seven charity shops to collecting donated goods for the charity.
Our charity shops are vibrant and dynamic spaces across Hillingdon. If you enjoy working with people and chatting with our local community, they are the perfect place to volunteer. There is also lots of opportunity for creativity when working in our charity shops. From recommending items of clothing and outfits, to designing our shop windows and shelves you will be supported by our dedicated Retail Team every step of the way.
Responsibilities:
- Receiving, organising, and displaying donated items with a friendly attitude and eye for design.
- Operating our tills and handling money (16 years old or above only).
- Chatting with our local community, including about other fundraising events the Hospice is organising to raise awareness.
Full training will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions about being a volunteer in our shops, please email, volunteer@harlingtonhospice.org or phone 020 3909 0447
Our book stall at Amersham Market is a wonderful place to meet new people and take a look through some great finds. We are looking for volunteers to help run, organise, and manage our book stall that takes place every Tuesday.
To find out more about our book stall, including how to volunteer please email, volunteer@harlingtonhospice.org or phone 020 3909 0447
With online sales and opportunities on eBay it is an exciting time to be part of any retail team. Our online sales and eBay volunteers gain valuable experience in a charity e-commerce setting whilst having lots of fun and plenty of tea and biscuits!
Responsibilities:
- Help research items for listing on eBay.
- Take photos of stock to display to a high standard on our online platforms.
- Pack items to be posted from our warehouse.
Full training will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions about being an online sales and eBay volunteer, including how to join our team, please email, volunteer@harlingtonhospice.org or phone 020 3909 0447
Our volunteer drivers and driver mates are an essential part of our Retail Team. And help us manage, collect, and organise the donations we receive from our amazing community. Our volunteer team currently operates on Monday and Thursday. We are hoping to expand this service to five days a week.
Responsibilities:
- Help with the collection and rotation of donated stock.
- Sort through donated items ready to be delivered to the charity shops.
- Identify any valuable items.
- Organise the clearance of the warehouse of any unsaleable items.
- Store items in an appropriate and safe environment.
Full training will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions about being a volunteer driver or driver mate, including how to volunteer, please email, volunteer@harlingtonhospice.org or phone 020 3909 0447
Volunteer with our Fundraising Team
We host a range of events during the year which would all be impossible without the generous support of our event volunteers. From cheering on event participants, to selling plants and gardening tools at our Michael Sobell House Annual Plant Sale, or acting as an event marshal, there’s a role for everyone!
If you have any questions about our events or would like to volunteer, please get in touch with our Community Fundraiser by emailing, fundraising@harlingtonhospice.org
Our collection tin volunteers play an important role in supporting our Fundraising Team in our work out in the community and with local organisations and businesses. Our collection tins raise invaluable funds and spread awareness of our charity and our services.
Requirements and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Flexible time commitment:
- Generally required during regular office hours when our collection tin hosts are open.
- The ability to drive is preferable but not a requirement for the role if you are able to travel around the Borough using another mode of transport, e.g., bus.
- Manage the list of collection tin holders (shops, cafes, hairdressers etc), checking in regularly.
- Collect and replace tins when required. And liaise with other volunteers and staff to support you in doing so.
- Liaise with the Charitable Accountant to ensure the monies are promptly counted and recorded.
- Identify new locations to place our tins, contact them and deliver a tin.
- Liaise with the Fundraising Team to explore other opportunities for collection tin holders to support the charity.
- Update the collection tin holders on the amount raised.
- Keep the collectin tin spreadsheet up to date or, where possible, update the fundraising database.
Skills and Personal Qualities:
- Trustworthy and reliable.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Good organisational skills.
- A flexible and non-judgemental approach to people and work.
- Enjoy working as part of a team.
Full training for collection tin volunteers will be provided, and ongoing support given.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteers please contact our Community Fundraiser by emailing lhaisman@harlingtonhospice.org.
Work experience and Duke of Edinburgh Awards
We can also offer work experience and volunteering towards the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to young people aged 14 and over. To learn more, please email volunteer@harlingtonhospice.org
