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Ashgate Hospice > Volunteering
Why volunteer at Ashgate Hospice?

Volunteering at Ashgate Hospice offers you the chance to help people in need. But, the benefits of volunteering can be even greater for you.

Mark Wray wearing glasses, a cap and a face mask, sorting through donations in our Donation Centre
Volunteer Enquiry Form
Want to get involved?

Please complete the enquiry form and one of the Volunteering Team will get back to you.

Leaflet | 9 January 2023

Volunteer handbook

Two teenage girls with long brown curly hair stood side-by-side outdoors

Alisha and Keris's story

Sisters, Alisha and Keris Hurrell, 17, from Temple Normanton in Chesterfield will spend Boxing Day volunteering on the Inpatient Unit at the hospice and are hoping to inspire others to come forward.

Read more

Frequently asked questions

Volunteering
How old do I have to be to volunteer?

For most roles, the minimum age for volunteering at Ashgate Hospice is 15 years old. For patient-facing roles, you will need to be at least 17 years old.

How much time do I have to give?

You can give as much or as little of your time as you can. Every little helps! Some of our roles, particularly patient-facing roles, need a little more training. So, for those roles, we do ask that volunteers commit to a regular shift if possible. 

Who can volunteer?

The easy answer to that is anyone. Everyone has something to bring to Ashgate Hospice. We want our volunteer teams to represent the diversity of our local community. For example: 

  • if you have some spare time, you can help our fundraising teams by helping at events 
  • if you are retired, we will welcome your experience and skills. Plus, volunteering can help you make new friends and regain a sense of purpose 
  • if you are a student, you can volunteer to gain experience to enhance your career prospects 
  • if you want to boost your confidence to gain paid employment, volunteering can help (and shouldn’t affect any benefits you may claim).
How do I find out about volunteering roles?

We advertise all our current volunteer roles on our website. If your preferred role isn’t advertised, we’d still love to hear from you. Our Volunteering Team can give advice on volunteering and help to match you to the right role.

Do I need experience to volunteer?

No, all we ask is that you work within our values and bring a positive, can-do attitude. We’ll match you to the right role and provide you with the training required. 

What training will there be?

All roles have on-the-job training. We also ask that all volunteers complete our essential training. This will enable you to keep yourself safe in the role and give you all the knowledge and skills you need to carry it out. We also have role-specific training where required.

Do you pay expenses?

We pay full travel expense for volunteers travelling on public transport. We also pay car mileage and car parking charges (conditions apply).

How do I apply to volunteer?

Please complete our volunteer enquiry form. You can find this on our website or we can post a copy out to you. To find out more, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or call 01246 568801. 

Will I need to give a reference?

We do ask for either one or two references depending on the role you are applying for. We also require DBS checks for some roles.

Do you offer corporate volunteering?

Yes, we do. Corporate volunteers can help us in many ways, whether that’s in our grounds and gardens, in our shops or at events. You can help us to build community links and valuable business support. Corporate volunteering gives us the opportunity to work with a dynamic team of people with varied skills. If you’re interested in corporate volunteering, please contact Ali Ward Foster at [email protected]. Find out more about corporate support.

Would you recommend volunteering after a bereavement?

We ask that people who have recently experienced a bereavement wait for twelve months, until after the first anniversary of the death before applying for a role that is patient facing on the ward or in our Supportive Care team.  We have had feedback that suggests the reality of being in a hospice setting can be particularly emotive and challenging for those who are recently bereaved.

As a hospice we also understand that volunteering can be very helpful in coming to terms with grief. We therefore have a number of different roles that are not patient facing which we would encourage potential volunteers to consider as an alternative.