Volunteering

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds and experiences and offer rewarding opportunities across a range of areas.

You may be looking to volunteer for various reasons, from wanting to gain valuable work experience to looking to give back to the community for personal reasons.

If you are aged 18 or over, enthusiastic and committed to making a real difference to the lives of our patients, you could be the person we are looking for.

Meet Lisa our voluntary services manager

Find out more about volunteering with us.

Thank you to our volunteer communication team: Taofeek Omolewa, Zeenat Dawud and Abimbola Murtala who created this video and supported the video project from scripting to post-production.

What’s in it for me?

• Develop valuable experience, which can support any professional development goals you may have.
• You may have access to relevant training which can further develop your skills and knowledge.
• Gain a wider understanding of the services and care that the Trust provides in addition to issues affecting those living with learning disabilities and mental health illnesses.
• Meet new people and develop new friendships.
• Make a real difference to the lives of service users, whether you are supporting the efficient running of a service, or lending a listening ear.

What can I offer the Trust?

• Your time – Time is a valuable asset, an extra pair of hands can make a huge difference in supporting both staff on an operational level and our service users on a social and friendship level
• Your skills and knowledge – You may be able to bring a fresh approach and ideas to a team by encouraging different ways of doing things or bringing a new skill to a team
• Enthusiasm and commitment – probably one of the most valuable things you could bring. An enthusiastic, committed person can make a big difference!

What volunteer roles are available?

We have volunteers carrying out a wide range of roles across the Trust including:

• Drivers
• Gardeners
• Administrators
• Befriending and support volunteers
• Volunteer chaplains
• Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog handlers
• Supporting and facilitating activities
• Check and chat calls
• Transporting equipment and PPE to sites across the Trust
• Collecting patient feedback

If you are interested, we would love to hear from you. Please email us [email protected]

Where can I volunteer?

Roles can be based at a variety of our hospitals and premises across our Trust area, in a range of clinical and non-clinical areas; as well as alongside our community teams.

You can also do one of our telephone volunteering roles from home.

Whether you live in County Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire or the Vale of York, your time and support is always welcomed.

Applying for a volunteering role

Contact the team to find out about our current opportunities [email protected]. We also promote our roles on our social media channels.

How do I get in touch?

Voluntary Services Department
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Lanchester Road Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH1 5RD

Tel: 0191 333 6328
Email: [email protected]

Frequently asked questions

Who can volunteer?

Anyone! You just need to be enthusiastic and passionate about making a positive difference.

Will it cost me anything?

Volunteering shouldn’t cost you anything. Any out-of-pocket expenses are usually paid, for example, if you volunteer as a driver, you’ll receive 45p per mile.

How much time do I need to give?

You can give as little or as much time as you can spare.

Will my benefits be affected?

If you claim benefits, you can volunteer as many hours as you like, but you need to follow certain rules. You will also need to let Jobcentre Plus or your benefits agency know that you’re volunteering.

Can I still volunteer if I work full-time?

Yes, we need volunteers on a weekend and evenings too!

Can volunteering lead to paid employment?

Volunteering can help you gain new skills and experiences that look great on your CV. Our free STEP (Steps Towards Employment Programme) is a short training course where you can find out more about the recruitment process within our Trust before volunteering.

Can I volunteer if I have a health issue or a disability?

Yes! We’re a mental health and learning disabilities trust and we have lots of volunteers with valuable lived experience. Also, not all of our volunteering roles are onsite, we have volunteering roles that are home-based too.

Will I get any training?

All volunteers complete a training package and have access to additional training.

How do I get started?

Contact us by emailing [email protected]