Volunteering opportunities

The work of volunteers is greatly appreciated by both staff and patients as an extra pair of hands and a social support. Due to the time constraints on staff we have limited opportunities for those requiring additional support or training and we therefore ask that you speak to a member of the Voluntary Services department before proceeding with your application, so that we can assess whether the role you are interested in will be suitable for your needs.

Due to the number of applications we receive we cannot guarantee that we will have a vacancy for you in your preferred area. We will happily look for an alternative role for you or add your name to a waiting list.

A-Z of Volunteering Opportunities

Admin & Clerical Volunteer

Volunteers help a department with administrative tasks such as filing, photocopying and answering the phone. This role is only available during the hours of Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm.

A&E Volunteer

Volunteers support patients in waiting areas and clinical areas by chatting, offering refreshments and making phone calls on behalf of staff.

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy volunteers are trained lay visitors whose help complements the work of the chaplains by assisting with the spiritual and social support of those in hospital. Volunteers visit patients on a particular ward one morning a week contacting and befriending those with faith and those without, or even those who are somewhere in the middle. Others help by ministering to people on a Sunday morning.

• Volunteers must be recommended by their local minister or spiritual leader
  
• Volunteers must be over the age of 18
  
• Volunteers receive training over a 10 week period, which includes talks and discussions on topics such as communication and grief and loss. You will also be able to practice visiting skills.

How to apply: Contact the Chaplaincy Department on 01223 217769 or email: chaplaincy@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

> Chaplaincy

Children/Maternity

PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) – volunteers help staff to answer the phone and the doo rbuzzer, make refreshments for parents and run errands.

NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) – volunteers help staffduring evenings and weekends to answer the phone and the door buzzer, make refreshments for parents and run errands.

Children’s wards – Volunteers can help on the ward clerk’s desk at a weekend with answering the door and the phone, running errands and chatting to patients.

There are currently no vacancies in Maternity due to significant demand for places.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

CAB have a drop-in centre near the main reception where volunteers are trained up to be full advisers in order to give members of the public and patients advice and information regarding benefits, debt, housing and other issues.

The drop-in centre is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays 10–4pm.

How to apply: Contact Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau
on 01223 222664 or email cabadmin@cambridgecab.org.uk

Clinic Helper

The clinics are always very busy. Volunteers are therefore needed to help with the smooth running of the clinics, providing clerical support such as photocopying, filing, and making up patient packs. Volunteers also run errands, meet and greet patients, make drinks and can arrange transport.

There are a variety of clinics, including urology, orthopaedics, dermatology and dental.

Clinics are open Monday to Friday office hours, and volunteers will work alongside reception staff.

Fundraising/Friends volunteers

Volunteers run a tea bar in the Rosie Hospital and help raise funds both in and outside the hospital to buy aids and comforts for our patients.

Throughout the year the Friends of Addenbrooke’s Group need volunteers to help with fundraising events, such as at the summer party. They are also looking for people who can bring fundraising ideas to the group and help with running regional events or for people with PR and Marketing skills.

> Friends of Addenbrooke's

Gardening

Volunteers help us create, develop and maintain our garden areas .

Guide

Volunteers are based at the reception desks and other key points of the hospital (particularly at the Main Entrance and Outpatients entrance) and direct visitors and patients to clinics and wards. The hospital covers a vast area, and these volunteers help to signpost or guide visitors around the site.

Volunteers can be wheelchair trained so that they can take visitors who have mobility issues to their destination. The role is suitable for anyone who enjoys meeting people and making a difference and for those who like to keep fit as this is an active role.

Library Volunteer

Volunteers deliver a mobile library service to the wards using donated books of all types plus magazines. Volunteers do a round of up to six wards in pairs or on their own and make recommendations of books, chat to patients and deliver a valued service.

• Volunteers can shadow existing volunteers.
  
• Library volunteers do their rounds currently on a Thursday, but other times can be arranged.

Mealtime volunteers

Volunteers assist the wards at meal times by helping patients with menu choices, distributing meals, assisting patients with cutting up food, opening packets and feeding patients.

• Volunteers receive a two-hour training session covering the practicalities and information needed to assist with meal times, followed by two hands-on sessions on a ward.
  
• Volunteers can help at lunch (11/11:30am–1/1:30pm) or dinner (4/4:30pm–6/6:30pm) Mondays to Sundays.

Newspaper Volunteer

Volunteers visit 4–6 wards from 8:30am weekdays and weekends to take orders and deliver newspapers for patients. Patients really look forward to their daily newspaper and the service that volunteers provide is always appreciated.

One-off opportunities volunteer

If you cannot commit to one session per week but want to get involved in volunteering at Addenbrookes you can register as a one-off volunteer, where we will contact you regarding a variety of opportunities, such as helping at Addenbrookes Open Day (helping on tours, greeting members of the public and handing out information), Nurse Recruitment Days (giving tours of the hospital), Clinical Exams (helping with the coordination of these) and helping with mail-outs.

PAT (Pets as Therapy)

PAT volunteers have their dog or cat assessed to be able to visit patients on certain wards, such as Children’s, Elderly and Rehab to be a stress reliever, encourage well-being and provide comfort for those missing their own pet. Medical experts have recognized the positive effects of this service. Volunteers join the PAT organisation and receive information, support and insurance for the role.

Volunteers must be aged over 18

How to apply: Visit the PAT website www.petsastherapy.org and request an application pack.

Radio Addenbrooke’s

This is the hospital radio service, where patients can listen to daily shows. This service provides ‘music as therapy’ and is suitable for those interested in media, music and people. Volunteers start by visiting the wards to collect requests and engage with patients. Volunteers can then be trained to deliver their own daytime or evening show. 

How to apply: Recruitment Open evenings are run throughout the year. Visit the Radio Addenbrooke's site to register for one of these sessions, where you will get the opportunity to meet members of the team and find out more:

> Radio Addenbrooke's

Red Cross

Red Cross train volunteers to provide a therapeutic care service to patients, offering manicures and hand and back massage. This is a very popular service, with volunteers receiving many requests from a variety of wards. Volunteers have to be over the age of 18 years and receive training for the role, followed by the opportunity to shadow an existing volunteer for their first session.

How to apply: Contact the Coordinator on 01223 868685 for an application form and more information.

> British Red Cross - Volunteer

Volunteer Visitor

Volunteers visit patients who are lonely, a long way from home or do not have many visitors. Volunteers need to be comfortable talking to people and able to make small talk with patients. Staff can request a volunteer on behalf of a patient or volunteers can visit wards and ask staff if there are any patients that they could visit. Many of the patients who require visitors are elderly, but we get requests from a variety of wards. This is a varied role and is flexible so that you can volunteer at a weekend, evening or during the day.

Wallace Cancer Care

Volunteers provide information, listening, empathetic support and guidance to cancer patients and their relatives.

> Wallace Cancer Care

Ward Helper

This is a very popular role as it provides patient contact and a good insight and experience of working in a hospital. The role provides the ward with an extra pair of hands, assisting with non-clinical tasks such as chatting to patients, distributing meals, making drinks and running errands for staff and patients. There are a variety of wards to volunteer on. Volunteering sessions can be weekends (mornings, lunchtimes or evenings) evenings (after college, University or work) or daytime for an average of 2–4 hours.

Volunteers need to have confidence and initiative to be a ward helper as the wards are a busy area where minimal support can be given due to the demands on staff.

Volunteers receive a task description and an orientation onto the ward on their first session and will then be expected to find tasks to do and patients to talk to.

WRVS

WRVS have a coffee pod and two coffee shops at Addenbrookes, which offer a much needed service to patients and staff. They also have a trolley service that offers refreshments and toiletries to patients on the wards. This is an exciting opportunity to join a sociable organisation, working with others and offering an opportunity to gain experience in catering.  This organisation makes a real difference to both patients and staff - the profits from WRVS’ two coffee shops and trolley services go back into the hospital to help improve services.

How to apply: Ring the WRVS Manager on 01223 244749 to arrange an initial meeting or to receive an application pack.

> WRVS

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