There are lots of opportunities to volunteer within Helen & Douglas House - click on the links below to read more:
If you want to apply to volunteer in-house, please download and complete the application form and email to volunteering@helenanddouglas.org.uk.
Whole families often stay at the house and having volunteers to look after the brothers and sisters of the children and young adults staying with us means that parents can get a well earned break.
Creative Arts Volunteers
If you have a talent that can be shared with others such as music, art, pottery, silk painting then we would be keen to have you volunteer with us. Young people enjoy taking part in practicle activities and so opportunities to spend time making or creating things are always welcomed.
Finance Team Volunteers
The Finance Office often needs help with a wide variety of administrative tasks - counting cash, daily banking, filing, sorting the post and other general office duties.
Administration Volunteers
Administrative work is vital.Volunteers are based in Douglas House and help with a variety of tasks from computer input, mailings, photocopying, scanning, making telephone calls and maintaining databases.
Fundraising Volunteers
Would you like to gain Fundraising experience?
We offer a number of volunteering opportunities within the various departments of the Fundraising team. These include Community, Corporate, Trusts, Major Donor, Individuals and Activity Events. You could be helping with mailings, introducing new campaigns, maintaining databases or helping out at one of our many activity events.
Does PR and Communications interest you? You would be assisting the PR & Communications Manager with administration including occasional mailings, filing and reporting on media coverage.
Kitchen Support
Preparing two cooked meals a day can be time consuming and the help of volunteers makes a huge difference. We need help with food preparation seven days a week between 11.00am and 1.30pm, or for an hour in the evening between 6.00pm and 7.00pm.
Douglas House is opening a brand new staff eating area. We are looking for individuals and couples to help us run the open plan kitchen from 10am - 3pm Monday - Friday on a rota basis. You will be involved in various jobs, from preparing cold food to serving teas and coffees and general cleaning and tidying.
Receptionists
We need volunteer receptionists in Douglas House to greet visitors and answer in-coming phone calls. We also need people to help cover holidays and sickness - ideal for anyone who isn’t able to make a regular commitment.
You will meet and talk with a wide variety of people, some of whom may be distressed. We will give you training on the small switchboard.
Bank Volunteer Befriender
Are you good with people and enjoy sharing your skills and talents with others?
We are looking for people to spend quality time with our guests at Douglas House and bring something of the outside world into the house. You will be given training and will always be supported by a member of our care team.
Currently there are no spaces on the care team in Douglas House however we are always keen to give you the expereince you are looking for whilst you are on our waiting list. In the meantime we regularly hold evening or weekend events with the young people that stay at Douglas House and we are looking for keen volunteers to come and help out at these events on an ad hoc basis.
As soon as vacancies arise for the care team befrienders we can then transfer you onto the regular rota.
Volunteer Gardeners
We would not be able to maintain our calm and beautiful grounds without our gardening volunteers. If you have gardening skills, enthusiasm and enjoy hard work then we want to hear from you.
Volunteer Maintenance Support
In our busy environment maintenance is ongoing. We have an expert maintenance team who are keen to include volunteers in their work.Training is given as you volunteer alongside them. You do not need to be an expert, but we are looking for practical people with a broad range of skills.
Important note: Work is often carried out in the heart of the hospice, so volunteers will need to be personable, discrete and accepting of difference.
Practical help with cleaning, tidying and ironing is something that is always needed at Helen & Douglas House. We are looking for positive and flexible people who can help to make sure our houses are kept in the best possible condition for the children, young adults and families who come to us for support.
Drivers & Chaperones
Having a bank of volunteer drivers for Helen & Douglas House families completely opens up the opportunities and support we can offer. Requests range from families that need a lift to a Rembrance service, those who need transport before and after a stay with us, to taking groups of children to a trip to the coast.
We have our own cars and two minibuses and we will provide MIDAS training for those willing to drive our larger vehicles. You will be called to volunteer on an ad hoc basis with requests occasionally being at quite short notice.
If you do not have a driving licence you can still help. Drivers will always be accompanied by a carer or chaperone so that one person is always free to call for assistance in the event that it is ever needed.
Are you an e-Bay aholic? Helen and douglas House has an e-Bay shop! We need volunteers to help us manage this. You would spend your days placing values on donated items, making assessments as to whether they are suitable for e-bay sales, listing items etc..
