We are highlighting the wide variety of volunteer opportunities available during volunteer week (June 1-7) and says it can also be a good route to a career in the NHS.
As well as currently recruiting to roles including meet and greet and activities support for those with dementia, we have also secured funding for a brand new volunteer to career programme which will start in the summer.
Volunteer to career can provide a direct route in to work in the healthcare sector. It is ideal for people who are interested in a career in healthcare and would like to gain an insight into the various roles that the NHS offers to see if it’s for them. No other experience or qualifications are needed. This programme is open to our internal volunteers and also external candidates.
It’s a 7 to 12 month programme beginning in July 2023 with a commitment to complete a minimum of 60 hours volunteering.
The programme supports your completion of the National Volunteer Certificate, Care certificate and eLearning standards provided by NHS England.
You will be supported each step of the way and will have a mentor who will help you learn the skills you need.
On completion of the programme you will be guaranteed an interview (if desired) to join NCIC’s bank of casual healthcare assistants, administrators, etc. Bank workers are paid for shifts whereas volunteers don’t receive direct payment for their services.
You can register your interest in this programme over on our website.
The Trust currently has many different volunteering roles and more than 120 active volunteers supporting our services on a daily basis, volunteers at the Trust were thanked at an appreciation event and presented with a certificate by Chair Steven Morgan.
Layla Wilson is the Volunteer Recruitment and Compliance Lead at NCIC she said:
“Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. It can help to prevent stress, isolation and anxiety. The social contact that comes from helping and working with others will have a positive effect on your overall psychological well-being, and is extremely rewarding."
Anne Welsh is NCIC’s longest-serving volunteer, beginning in 1995. Before becoming a volunteer, Anne was sister in at the Cumberland Infirmary and had been working as a nurse for 30 years.
Anne volunteers for a couple of hours a week on Aspen ward, speaking with patients, making beds, and helping with anything that is required of her.
Anne said: “The hospital feels like home and where I feel comfortable after it being my place of work for so long. I like speaking to patients on the ward and introducing them to each other so they feel comfortable chatting in what can be an isolating environment.
“A lot of things have changed over the years since I was nursing, the use of technology and the flow of patients are a lot quicker but the patients requiring and the passionate nurses are a constant.
“I would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to do so. It’s extremely rewarding.”
On the topic of reward, Anne told us she felt honoured to be invited to Westminster to celebrate the 75th birthday of the NHS.
Other benefits of Volunteering with the NHS:
- Increase your sense of well-being.
- Feel that you are contributing to someone else's well-being.
- Participate in a wider social life.
- Increase your knowledge of health.
- Learn new skills.
- Get relevant training.
- Learn from and are supported by NHS staff.
- Gain experience in an NHS environment and able to apply for internal vacancies.
You can find all of our current volunteer vacancies on our website or if you can’t find what you are looking for you can fill out an expression of Interest Form and we can see what we can do for you.
All volunteers have to go through normal employment checks including DBS checks.