Our Volunteer Service is fortunate to have a wonderful team of caring, compassionate, and dedicated volunteers that selflessly offer their time to support our various services throughout the Trust. Their diverse backgrounds and personal experiences mean that they all bring their own set of skills and array of knowledge which we are all very grateful for.
Some of the roles volunteers are involved in include:
Volunteering requires commitment, both of energy and time. Our volunteers are unpaid – apart from travel expenses – so why do it? There are many reasons, including:
Job satisfaction
The chance to gain experience and develop new skill
Social contact and activity
The opportunity to help other people
A rewarding and fun experience
Depending on the area they work, our volunteers undertake a wide variety of activities including talking to patients, making teas and coffees, helping to make beds, signposting to services and escorting people around the hospital. By doing that little extra, volunteers can brighten a patients day.
No, you don’t usually need any special skills to be a volunteer at St Mary’s hospital. We provide all volunteers with general training and you will also be given specialised training relevant to your role, if needed. Our volunteers are made up of a diverse range of people and it is more important that they have qualities such as friendliness, a sense of humour, reliability and a genuine wish and willingness to help.
Each volunteer decides how much time they are able to offer. Some people come in for three hours per week, others volunteer for one to two days a week. Normally volunteers will undertake one session of 3-4 hours per week. We do ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of six months so it is important to think carefully about whether volunteering will fit into your life on a regular basis.
We welcome volunteers from the age of 16 and there is no upper age limit, providing you are reasonably fit. All volunteers are interviewed to make sure we can find a role that is suitable.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact us in the first instance and we will advise you of the process.
Contact us:
Volunteer Service
Isle of Wight NHS Trust
St Mary’s Hospital
Parkhurst
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 5TG
01983 822099 ext. 6411
'Everyday is different – funny, sad, demanding, challenging – but never dull’
‘Volunteering really spices up my life. I would recommend every one of my friends to join in because it is such a great opportunity.’
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