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Volunteering
We have a number of volunteers in the Trust including members of the public, service users and carers.
Volunteers can offer a wide range of skills and experience to help the Trust and complement our staff.
Who can volunteer?
Anyone aged 16 years and over can volunteer – there is no upper age limit.
Why volunteer?
There are many benefits from volunteering and reasons why you might decide to volunteer. These include:
- Personal satisfaction
- Contribution to other people’s well being
- Personal achievement in accomplishing tasks
- Gaining self-confidence
- Confidence booster/self-esteem
- Social inclusion
- Community involvement
- Meeting new people
- Learning new skills and knowledge
- Help young people with career experience
- Self-therapy
- Having fun
Types of volunteering in the Trust
There are many different ways that you can volunteer for the Trust.
Some examples are:
- Volunteer drivers that pick up patients for appointments, discharges and transfers, support groups and home leave
- Hospital shop volunteers
- Befrienders (people who visit patients in their own homes)
- Gardening at Trust sites
- Helping with occupational therapy
- Community groups (eg piano playing)
- Red cross volunteers
- Therapeutic massage volunteers
- Pets as therapy (PAT) dogs
- Meeters and greeters in buildings, who help settle people on their arrival
- Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) volunteers, who go into wards and ask for feedback
- Masseuses
- Administration volunteers
- Coffee morning volunteers
- Library volunteers who take books onto wards
League of Friends
The League of Friends is a charitable organisation which aims to raise funds to support and meet the needs of the people who use Trust services.
There are two leagues in the Trust: the East Kent League of Friends and the West Kent and Medway League of Friends and consist of volunteers who dedicate their time to raise funds.
The League of Friends provides amenities and facilities on Trust sites such as shops, as well as organising fundraising events and championing causes.
If you want to volunteer for the League of Friends, you need to register with us. Please use the contact details below to get in touch.
If you would like to support the League of Friends you can become a paid up member without volunteering. Please contact us for more information.
Contact us and apply
The Volunteer Services Co-ordinators can help you find the right volunteer placement within the Trust.
If you want to apply to become a volunteer, you will usually follow the recruitment procedure which includes completing an application form and providing references. You will be asked to take part in an informal interview.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us:
Helen Collins, Volunteer Services Co-ordinator (East)
Tel: 01227 812042
St Martin’s Hospital, Canterbury
Janet Lingwood, Volunteer Services Co-ordinator (West)
Tel: 01622 725000
Priority House, Maidstone
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