Volunteer roles for the Health sector

At St John Ambulance we are looking to embed ourselves within our communities, delivering support which is tailored to the needs of those communities whilst providing a positive experience for our Volunteers.

We need leaders who are passionate about making a difference in their communities, who care about helping and developing others, who will lead and inspire a volunteer movement across a geographical area to deliver Community First Aid, Community Education and Community Fundraising as well as develop our offering for young people. Through leading a team of Volunteer leaders, you will drive excellence in delivery, develop an inclusive and diverse volunteering experience for new and current volunteers, and help navigate through change to build a bigger and better St John Ambulance.

As a member of our network leadership team, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride through supporting a team and our volunteers to deliver our essential services. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation.

We will make sure you will have access to a proper induction to volunteering with SJA and the training you need for the role you take on. We will also provide you with a supportive environment while you are volunteering with us. Information about our volunteer roles are included in the role descriptions. What you can expect from SJA, and what we expect from those who volunteer with us, is included in the volunteer charter.

Volunteers would be expected to attend training for the role both online and in person, to attend regularly network weekly meetings to enable them to keep their skills up to date.

If you are successful you will need to undertake relevant training for the role, details of which will be discussed after you have been appointed.

• Closing date for these opportunities is:01/06/2026
• Inductions and training or this role will need take to place - Interview Training specific for role in relation to community engagement and First aid awareness training. St John online systems Fundraising First Aid Awareness training. Demonstrators training if required.
• Local enrolment TBC on successful appointment.

We’re excited to be opening a new café at our Spring Garden Lane site this April and are looking for warm, friendly volunteers to help create a welcoming space for our visitors, patients, and staff.

In this role, you’ll support the day-to-day running of the Hospice café. Tasks may include serving customers, preparing light snacks and drinks, operating the till, and helping to keep the café clean, organised, and inviting.

No previous experience is necessary—just a positive attitude, reliability, and a willingness to learn and support others.

Full training will be provided, including an online food safety course to help you feel confident in the role.

This role provides a telephone listening and support service to bereaved carers’ and family members whose relatives died under the care of The Hospice of St Francis. Last year our Bereavement Support Line volunteers made over 1,000 calls.

We are looking for additional volunteers to support this service.  Do you have strong listening skills?  Are you reflective, self-aware, adaptive with basic IT skills?  We'd love to hear from you. 

The role will be ome based and you will receive full training and ongoing support.

Inpatient unit Volunteers provide support to the kitchen staff by delivering meals and snacks to patients, collecting used crockery from patient rooms and washing up all staff & patient crockery and cutlery.  Volunteers in this role also provide a warm welcome to visitors when required. This allows catering staff to concentrate on food preparation, and nursing staff to concentrate on patient care. 

Full training provided. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.

“Since helping at the Hospice of St Francis I feel as though my life has been much enriched”

IPU Volunteer

Hours: We are looking for committed volunteers to help in our shops.  Shop volunteers need to be fit and work to a rota; usually one morning or afternoon each week, but we can be flexible. We are particularly looking for volunteers in the following shops:

Greenway Owned (Chesham) NEW SHOP OPENED! Flexible shifts available, initially Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, from February to also be opening Monday to Wednesday 

Amersham Owned- Monday afternoons, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Friday mornings, Weekends

Berkhamsted Owned - Tuesdays, Wednesday afternoons (Sorter), Saturday afternoons

Abbots Langley Owned - Friday afternoons

Highfield Owned (Hemel Hempstead) - Monday afternoons, Friday afternoons, Saturdays

Kings Langley Owned - Monday mornings, Saturday afternoons (ideally Steamer). DofE - Wednesday after school, Saturday mornings

Returned to Glory (Berkhamsted) - Mondays mornings and Weekends (ideally willing and able to help move furniture)

Marshalswick Owned (St Albans) - Steamers and Sorters for most days and Sundays also Stock Processor/Till Operator

All our shops are in the heart of the community.  If you are looking for a fun role, to learn new skills and to work within a fantastic team then shops have the volunteer roles for you!

Tasks are incredibly varied but all require a commitment to the Hospice values.  The main roles with training given, are:

Till Operator - serving customers on the till, customer facing

Steamer - Steaming clothes ready for sale

Sorter - Sorting donations in preparation to sell

Stock Processor - Hanging, tagging clothes, washing bric-a-brac, filling shop shelves

If you are interested in finding out more about these roles pop into one of the shops for a chat with the shop manager, complete our online application form or contact our friendly volunteering team.

“Bright, lively and a fun place to work with a brill people.” Shop Volunteer

Supporting our events has something for everyone! With roles based at our community events and mass participation events there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in a fun, memorable event experience.

Event support volunteers help our events by marshalling, welcoming participants, setting up and stewarding.

Our volunteers help to run and structure the events better, keep participants safe and allow us to continue to raise money for our care services.

Each role requires a different level of commitment, so please get in touch if you think you can help.

"I love helping at events, there is such a sense of camaraderie"

Event Volunteer

At Help4Homeless, our mission is simple: make sure no one in Peterborough sleeps rough without knowing someone cares.

We're a youth-led community group founded by a 17-year-old who saw a man sleeping under a bridge and decided to act. We create £10 wellbeing packs — socks, snacks, hygiene essentials, warmth — and hand them directly to people sleeping rough in Peterborough. We've already helped 6 people at our very first event, and we're just getting started.

Do you want to help tell that story?

As our Photography/Videography Volunteer, you'll capture the moments that move people to donate, share, and care. Your content will power our social media, support our fundraising campaigns, and show the real human impact of homelessness in Peterborough.

What you'll be working on:

• Attending pack distributions and community events when you're available
• Capturing photos and short video clips on the day
• Passing edited content to our social media team

This role is for you if…

• You have a passion for storytelling through images or video
• You care about homelessness and want your skills to make a difference
• You're based in or near Peterborough

No professional equipment needed — a good smartphone camera is absolutely fine. Fully flexible around your schedule, no minimum commitment.

As our Chair of Trustees, we offer you a deeply rewarding role with the opportunity of personal fulfilment, leadership development, purpose and connection through your vital contribution to shape the strategic direction of a highly respected charity. You will ensure we achieve our mission to provide outstanding, free end-of-life care within our community.You will work alongside a skilled and passionate Board and executive team and have the chance to make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of local people and their families.

We are seeking a passionate Chair of Trustees to help shape the future of our hospice and champion our vision that everyone has the opportunity to die at home with our community-based hospice care.

As a Trustee of Nottinghamshire Hospice, you will play a vital leadership role in shaping the future of our hospice. This is an opportunity to contribute to an established Board of Trustees who are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Hospice. 

You will use your skills and experience to guide the future of the hospice, safeguard its resources and champion a culture shaped by Compassion, Trust, and Ambition. 

DO YOU HAVE A HEART OF GOLD?

VOLUNTEER ROLE: GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Use your creativity to bring joy, connection, and hope to people who feel alone

Loneliness is one of the quietest struggles in our city. Every day, people wake up feeling disconnected, unseen, and without a sense of belonging.

SUNSHINE exists to change that — through community, joy, and human connection. But to reach the people who need us most, we need powerful, beautiful, uplifting design.

If you believe design can change how people feel… If you want your creativity to make a real difference… If you want to help build a charity’s visual identity from the ground up…

We would love you to join us.

About SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a volunteer-powered loneliness charity bringing people together through joyful activities, uplifting programmes, and community events that help people feel connected again.

Our brand is warm, human, dignified, and full of hope — and your work will help us share that message with the world.

Your Mission as Graphic Designer

You will help shape the visual identity of SUNSHINE and create the materials that bring our mission to life.

This role is perfect for someone who wants to:

• Create beautiful, uplifting designs that inspire people to get involved

• Build a consistent, joyful visual identity for a growing charity

• Design materials that help us reach people facing loneliness every day

• Use creativity to support a meaningful social cause

• See their work used across London and online

Your designs will help people feel welcome, included, and hopeful — often before they’ve even met us.

What You’ll Create

We’re looking for a designer who can support us with a range of creative assets, including:

• Two Roller Banners for events and outreach

• Social Media Posts for campaigns, awareness, and volunteer recruitment

• Business Stationery (letterheads, compliments slips, email signatures)

• A Business Card–Size Leaflet for quick outreach and community distribution

• Additional digital and print materials as we grow

You’ll work closely with our team to ensure everything feels warm, dignified, and unmistakably SUNSHINE.

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need formal qualifications — just creativity, passion, and a desire to help.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Love creating beautiful, meaningful design

• Enjoy working with colour, typography, and layout

• Want to help build a charity’s visual identity

• Are organised, reliable, and collaborative

• Care about people, community, and social impact

• Want your work to genuinely change lives

If you’ve ever wanted your creativity to matter, this is the perfect place to shine.

Join the SUNSHINE Movement

Become our Graphic Designer and help us bring joy, connection, and hope to people who feel alone.

DO YOU HAVE A HEART OF GOLD?

VOLUNTEER ROLE: DEPUTY CEO

Help lead SUNSHINE into its next chapter — and build a London where no one feels alone

Loneliness is one of the most profound social challenges of our time. Every day, people across our city wake up feeling disconnected, unseen, and without a sense of belonging.

SUNSHINE exists to change that — through joy, community, and human connection.

Now, we are looking for a compassionate, visionary leader to stand alongside our CEO and help shape the future of this movement.

If you believe in people… If you believe in community… If you believe that loneliness can be healed through kindness and connection…

Your leadership could change lives.

About SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a volunteer-powered loneliness charity bringing people together through joyful activities, uplifting programmes, and community events that help people feel connected again.

We are building a London where everyone feels seen, valued, and part of something.

Your Mission as Deputy CEO

As Deputy CEO, you will help lead the strategic, operational, and cultural development of SUNSHINE. You will be a key partner to the CEO — supporting growth, strengthening our foundations, and helping to build a charity that shines with warmth, dignity, and purpose.

This role is perfect for someone who wants to:

• Shape the direction and future of a growing charity

• Support the CEO in strategic planning, leadership, and decision-making

• Oversee key areas of operations, programmes, and volunteer development

• Build a strong, joyful, people-centred culture

• Champion SUNSHINE’s mission across London and beyond

• Ensure our work is impactful, sustainable, and rooted in compassion

Your leadership will help us reach more people, build stronger communities, and bring hope to those who feel forgotten.

What You’ll Do

As Deputy CEO, you will:

• Support the CEO in leading the organisation

• Oversee day-to-day operations and organisational development

• Strengthen internal systems, processes, and governance

• Support programme growth and delivery

• Work closely with the Head of Volunteering to build a thriving volunteer culture

• Represent SUNSHINE at events, meetings, and partnerships

• Help shape strategy, culture, and long-term vision

• Ensure SUNSHINE remains joyful, inclusive, and people-first

This is a leadership role with heart — a chance to help build a charity that truly changes lives.

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need formal qualifications — just leadership, compassion, and a commitment to community.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Are a natural organiser and people leader

• Care deeply about human connection and social impact

• Enjoy building systems, culture, and structure

• Are proactive, reliable, and calm under pressure

• Can support a CEO with clarity, trust, and shared purpose

• Want to help build something meaningful from the ground up

If you’ve ever wanted to use your leadership to make the world kinder — this is your opportunity.

Join the SUNSHINE Movement

Become our Deputy CEO and help lead a joyful, compassionate, community-powered charity.

DO YOU HAVE A HEART OF GOLD?

VOLUNTEER ROLE: HEAD OF VOLUNTEERING

Build the heart of SUNSHINE — our people, our culture, our volunteer family

Loneliness is one of the quietest crises of our time. Every day, people across London wake up feeling unseen, unheard, and disconnected, and SUNSHINE exists to change that.

But our mission can only shine through people. Warm people. Kind people. People who want to make a difference.

And now, we’re looking for someone extraordinary to lead the creation of our entire volunteer programme — the beating heart of SUNSHINE.

If you believe in people… If you love building culture… If you want to shape a movement that brings joy and connection to those who need it most…

This is your moment.

About SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a volunteer-powered loneliness charity bringing people together through joyful activities, uplifting programmes, and community events that help people feel connected again.

We are building a London where no one feels forgotten — and volunteers are the soul of that mission.

Your Mission as Head of Volunteering

You will design, build, and lead SUNSHINE’s volunteer programme from the ground up.

This is a foundational leadership role for someone who wants to:

• Create an inspiring, inclusive volunteer culture

• Build systems, processes, and pathways that help volunteers thrive

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and retention of our volunteer family

• Shape the volunteer experience from first hello to long-term belonging

• Ensure volunteers feel valued, supported, and appreciated

• Grow a community of people who bring joy and connection to others

Your work will directly shape the future of SUNSHINE — and the lives of the people we serve.

What You’ll Do

As Head of Volunteering, you will:

• Design our volunteer programme — structure, roles, pathways, and culture

• Recruit and onboard volunteers with warmth, clarity, and care

• Create a positive, empowering volunteer experience

• Develop training, support, and wellbeing practices

• Build systems and processes for communication, scheduling, and engagement

• Lead volunteer appreciation and retention initiatives

• Champion our volunteers as the heart of SUNSHINE’s mission

This is a role for a builder, a connector, a culture-shaper.

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need formal qualifications — just heart, leadership, and a passion for people.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Love creating community and belonging

• Are organised, proactive, and people-focused

• Enjoy building systems and culture from scratch

• Care deeply about volunteers and their experience

• Want to make a meaningful, lasting difference

• Believe in kindness, dignity, and human connection

If you’ve ever wanted to build something beautiful that helps others shine — this is it.

Join the SUNSHINE Movement

Become our Head of Volunteering and help us build a joyful, connected volunteer family.

DO YOU HAVE A HEART OF GOLD?

VOLUNTEER ROLE: CAMPAIGN MANAGER (LONELINESS AWARENESS)

Lead the movement that helps London understand loneliness, and inspires action

Every day, thousands of people across our city face loneliness in silence. It affects their confidence, their mental health, their sense of belonging — and too often, no one sees it happening.

SUNSHINE is changing that. And we need someone who can help us shine a light on the truth of loneliness and rally London to care.

If you believe stories can change hearts… If you know awareness can change lives… If you want to lead a campaign that genuinely matters…

This is your moment.

About SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a grassroots, volunteer-powered loneliness charity bringing people together through joyful activities, uplifting programmes, and community events that help people feel connected again.

We exist to spread joy, rebuild confidence, and create a London where no one feels forgotten.

Your Mission as Campaign Manager

You will be the driving force behind our Loneliness Awareness Campaign — shaping how SUNSHINE speaks to the world and how the world understands loneliness.

This role is perfect for someone who wants to:

• Raise public awareness of loneliness and its impact on mental health and wellbeing

• Create powerful messaging that inspires empathy, action, and community spirit

• Lead a meaningful campaign that brings attention to a hidden crisis

• Champion the voices of people who feel unseen

• Grow SUNSHINE’s visibility across London and beyond

You’ll help people understand that loneliness isn’t just “being alone” — it’s a serious issue affecting confidence, mental health, physical health, and quality of life.

Your work will help change perceptions, reduce stigma, and bring people together.

What You’ll Do

As Campaign Manager, you will:

• Design and lead our Loneliness Awareness Campaign

• Develop compelling stories, messages, and content

• Coordinate awareness events, activities, and social media pushes

• Spotlight the real experiences of people facing loneliness (with dignity and care)

• Collaborate with volunteers, partners, and community groups

• Grow SUNSHINE’s public presence and community reach

• Help London understand why loneliness matters — and what we can do about it

This is a leadership role with heart. A chance to shape a movement, not just a message.

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need formal qualifications — just passion, creativity, and commitment.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Care deeply about people and community

• Understand the emotional and social impact of loneliness

• Enjoy storytelling, communication, or campaign work

• Are organised, proactive, and excited to lead

• Want to make a real difference in people’s lives

If you’ve ever wanted to use your voice for good, this is the place to do it.

Join the SUNSHINE Movement

Become our Campaign Manager and help London see what loneliness really looks like — and how we can change it.

DO YOU HAVE A HEART OF GOLD?

VOLUNTEER WITH SUNSHINE

Be the reason someone feels seen, valued, and connected

Every day across London, thousands of people wake up feeling alone. Not because they want to be, but because life has become quieter, smaller, and harder to navigate without someone by their side.

You can change that. With just a little of your time, you can bring light into someone’s world.

Who We Are

SUNSHINE is a grassroots, volunteer-powered loneliness charity bringing people together through joyful activities, uplifting programmes, and community events that help people feel connected again. We believe in warmth, compassion, and genuine human connection, and we’re building a movement of people who feel the same.

Why Volunteer With SUNSHINE?

Because your presence can transform someone’s day, and sometimes, their whole life.

As a SUNSHINE volunteer, you will:

• Bring joy to people who rarely experience it

• Create real human connection through conversation, kindness, and shared moments

• Be part of a positive, passionate community that truly cares

• Help rebuild confidence, wellbeing, and hope for people who feel forgotten

• Make London a brighter, kinder, more connected place

No experience needed. Just a warm heart, a listening ear, and the willingness to show up.

Ways You Can Help

Whether you have one hour a week or one day a month, there’s a place for you:

• Befriending & Drop‑In Support

• Workshops & Clubs

• Events & Community Activities

• Fundraising & Awareness

• Creative, admin, or behind‑the‑scenes support

Every role matters. Every volunteer shines.

This Is Your Moment to Make a Difference

Loneliness is one of the biggest challenges of our time, but together, we can change the story.

If you’ve ever wished you could do something meaningful… If you’ve ever wanted to give back… If you’ve ever hoped to be part of something bigger…

This is your invitation.

Join the SUNSHINE Movement

Apply today and help us bring light to someone’s life.