HERE’S HOW YOU CAN BE AN NHS VOLUNTEER
IT’S been nearly a year since the Daily Mail joined forces with Helpforce — a charity set up to encourage people to volunteer in the NHS — for a campaign to recruit more helpers. Almost 34,000 people responded to the Mail’s call, a huge boost on top of the 78,000 volunteers already helping the NHS. While Helpforce is not taking new volunteer applications at the moment, if you would like to help the NHS you can contact your local hospital directly to ask if it is taking applicants.
WHAT ROLES MIGHT BE AVAILABLE?
EVERYTHING you can imagine that doesn’t require a clinical qualification. Volunteers are helping out in A&E, staffing hospital shops and even running choirs for dementia patients.
IS BEING SOCIABLE A REQUIREMENT?
NO, there are plenty of roles that don’t involve much chatting, from admin to delivering blood donations. You’ll be
asked your preferences when you discuss available roles with the volunteer manager at your local hospital. AM I ALLOWED TIME OFF?
EACH hospital has its own policy on volunteer hours, but all will accommodate time off or holidays when you need it, within reason.
I’VE APPLIED BUT I HAVEN’T BEEN CONTACTED YET
THE hospital volunteer service managers work hard to contact everyone who applies, but it may take time — so please be patient.
aN UPdaTe for those who previously signed up to the Mail/ Helpforce campaign — for those still waiting, you can search for roles directly at: helpforcelive. community.