Hospice volunteering
So much more than just giving your time, volunteering at the Hospice is a meaningful way to make every moment count for those who need us most.
At the heart of our charity
At Willen Hospice, we offer a wide range of volunteering roles to suit different skills, interests, and backgrounds. Whether you’re supporting patients directly, helping in our kitchens, tending our gardens, or assisting with admin tasks, your time and talents can make a real difference. We’ll work with you to find a role that feels right, with flexible hours that fit around your schedule and the needs of the Hospice. Below you’ll find just a small selection of the roles on offer.
Ward support volunteers
Volunteering on our In-Patient unit can be incredibly rewarding. You'll have good communication skills, in addition to the maturity to work in an often emotionally challenging environment. You'll use your patience, sensitivity, discretion and compassion to make a real difference in the lives of our patients and their loved ones.
Volunteer Receptionist
Could you provide a warm welcome to visitors to the Hospice? As a volunteer receptionist you'll greet our visitors and ensure sign in and sign out procedures are followed. You'll be responsible for answering calls, taking messages and directing enquiries. Maturity, sensitivity and a compassionate and friendly nature are essential.
Volunteer Administrator
Could you provide administrative support to our teams across our charity? As a volunteer administrator you'll help during office hours. You'll be responsible general office duties, data entry, process management and documentation tasks as required. You'll need a compassionate, friendly and flexible approach.
Cafe counter assistants
Based in our beautiful lakeside cafe, we welcome volunteers to help us behind the counter, serving patients, visitors and staff. You’ll have a warm, friendly disposition and will enjoy taking basic food orders, making and serving drinks and treats as well as light cleaning to keep our cafe looking immaculate.
Volunteer
gardeners
We are incredibly proud of our Hospice gardens and allotments and we know our patients and visitors enjoy the peace and tranquillity they offer. If you’re passionate about plants and willing to work in a variety of weather conditions for a few hours a week then you’ll be very welcome to join our fantastic grounds team.
Therapeutic and Well-being
Volunteering with our Therapeutic and Well-being Team offers a variety of meaningful roles. Fully qualified complementary therapists provide treatments such as massage and reflexology to support patients' well-being.
Other volunteers assist with group activities including crafts, walking groups, and afternoon tea for carers. Drivers and receptionists help ensure smooth access and a warm welcome to our services. Family and Young People Support Volunteers work alongside the Social Care Team, offering compassionate support to children, young people, and their families during difficult times.
Patient Care Support Programme
Your role will be to support and work closely with our nursing team, to deliver care to our patients and their family and friends. During this placement, open to applications twice a year, you will also undertake a program of training based on Care Certificate standards.
Register your Interest
Volunteer at the Hospice
Volunteer at the Hospice
We’re here to help
Contact our Volunteer Services team on
01908 663636 or email: volservices@willen-hospice.org.uk if you have any questions.
Meet our volunteers
Alison
administration volunteer
As a retired Chartered Civil Engineer, Alison uses her project management experience across five different departments within Willen Hospice. “Retirement doesn’t mean you are redundant. You can still apply and utilize your skills and be in control of your own time. It’s rewarding to help run such an important service, especially as it’s in my own local community"
Bev
In-Patient unit volunteer
“I find it enriching to ease the workload of the medical staff. Volunteering helps me develop my communication skills and be sensitive to different situations. The environment is always positive with lots of smiles, but my best moment was being there to give a patient a hug and offer some consolation when she was having a particularly bad day.”
David
garden volunteer
“When I retired, I wanted to spend more time gardening in the fresh air, having spent my working life in offices.” David also makes the gardens more homely for the Hospice wildlife. “I've made a hedgehog house, an insect hotel and a bug hotel. But our favourite has to be the miniature picnic table which is a hit with our squirrels!"
Ann
receptionist and Lymphoedema volunteer
"The benefits to any volunteer here are enormous. A feeling of self-worth, something to keep your brain active and for those who are retired a reason to get out of bed in the morning. (Although when it’s cold and raining I do wonder about that sometimes!) I just hope I can go on for a while longer helping this amazing charity to flourish."
More volunteering roles
Volunteer in fundraising
We are kindly invited to hundreds of community-run events each year but without the support of our volunteers to represent Willen, we simply couldn't attend.
Volunteer in
retail
Our retail volunteers carry out a wide variety of tasks from sorting donations, organising our stock, and window displays, serving customers and much more.
Volunteer as
a team
Volunteering as a team helps build employee engagement and develop leadership and problem-solving skills outside of your work environment.