Volunteers are often described as the unsung heroes of the NHS — people who give their time, energy and compassion to support patients, families and staff across the health service. Many provide emotional support to patients who may be feeling anxious or alone, while others assist with practical tasks that help healthcare teams focus on delivering treatment.
Many NHS organisations and charities need help from volunteers to keep services running. Volunteering is also good for your wellbeing too! It’s a great way to stay active, learn new skills, make new friends and give you a sense of purpose and pride. It can help you to be less stressed, anxious and lonely.
There are more than 300 different volunteering roles across the NHS, offering meaningful and rewarding opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Some roles are one-off projects, such as hospital garden makeovers or fundraising events, while others offer long-term involvement — from hosting hospital radio shows and supporting hospice administration to contributing to patient advisory groups. There are also some roles you might not expect! Evens animals can volunteer with the NHS – like Lori and Pearl, who volunteer as pet therapy dogs in Tameside. You can find out more about Lori and Pearl on our facebook page.
Becoming an NHS Volunteer
Volunteers are crucial to the NHS’s vision for the future of health and social care. There are different ways to support the NHS depending on the type of role that you are looking for. You don’t need any previous experience to volunteer with the NHS — just enthusiasm and a willingness to help. Volunteering is open to everyone, even if you already have a job.
Fancy it? Find out more by visiting the NHS volunteering website. You can find opportunities near you and hear from current volunteers.
Other volunteering opportunities
There are thousands of health and wellbeing volunteer opportunities across Greater Manchester. Local charities and community groups are always in need of extra support and rely on volunteers to help deliver vital services. We recently spoke to Age UK about how volunteers make a huge difference to them. You can find out what they had to say here.
Feeling inspired?
You can find out more on our volunteering page. You can also search for volunteering opportunities across Greater Manchester by visiting the Manchester Community website.
