Are there age restrictions for volunteering? We ask that volunteers in the hospice are over the age of 18. Expand Due to the sensitive and sometimes emotionally challenging environment we work in, we ask that volunteers in the hospice are over the age of 18. The minimum age to volunteer in our charity shops, warehouse or retail office is 16. For insurance purposes, our volunteer drivers need to be aged between 25 and 70.
Can I still volunteer if I am not a British national? Trinity's rules around volunteering for people who are not British nationals Expand If you are a resident of one of the member states within the European Union (EU), there are no restrictions on volunteering. If you are from from outside of the EU (including refugees and asylum seekers), you will need to ensure you have an appropriate visa or provide confirmation that you are able to work within the UK, even though volunteering is not paid employment.
Can I volunteer if I have been recently bereaved? Volunteering at Trinity if you have been recently bereaved. Expand If you have recently experienced a bereavement (whether this was somebody under the care of Trinity or not), and you wish to take on a patient-facing volunteer role at Trinity, we will ask you to wait for a minimum of 12 months before volunteering with us. Although this can seem like a long time to wait, feedback from volunteers suggests that this is an adequate adjustment time for those who have lost a loved one.
Can I volunteer if I or somebody I know is under Trinity’s care? Expand Unfortunately you cannot volunteer if you or somebody close to you is presently using Trinity’s services. This decision is based on many years’ experience and we would be happy to talk to you about the reasons for this, please call 020 7787 1042.
Do I need any special skills to become a volunteer? More about what skills you might need in order to volunteer at Trinity Expand For most roles you don't need any special skills to apply to be a volunteer. If specific skills, experience or qualifications are needed we will provide details on the role description. In addition, each volunteer role description has a list of "requirements and recommendations" outlining the type of person we are looking for with each volunteer role so you should look closely at these before applying for the role.
What is the application process? Expand All volunteers should first complete an application form, which you can do online for both hospice and shops roles. You can then expect to attend an interview with the manager of the area you wish to volunteer in. You will need to provide two satisfactory references (one if you are between 16 and 17 years old). Depending on the role, a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check will be carried out before you are invited to attend our training programme. Our retail volunteer roles do not require a DBS check. Take a look at our current volunteer vacancies If you already know which role you want to apply for? Fill in the application form for a hospice-based volunteer role Fill in the application form for a volunteer role with our shops
What is the time commitment for volunteering? Helpful information about the time commitment we ask you to make when applying to volunteer at Trinity Expand We understand that people have busy lifestyles, so we offer flexible volunteering opportunities which work around you. In the hospice, we ask for our volunteers to commit to a minimum of 6 months. The weekly commitment will vary depending on the role but on average it is no more than 3 hours per week. In our charity shops, there's no minimum commitment and we welcome young people who wish to do work experience or work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in our shops.
What training do you offer volunteers? The training you will receive as a volunteer at Trinity Expand All volunteers who are working in hospice services will undergo a comprehensive induction day. Other volunteers who help with fundraising, shops or events are offered training suitable to the role being undertaken. This will be explained to you in more detail when we meet you for an interview and once you begin your role. As a volunteer you will also be entitled to attend updates and events throughout the year including our Trinity Champions training which aims to equip you with the knowledge to represent Trinity around the hospice and if you choose, externally.
What volunteer roles are currently available? How to find out which volunteer roles we're currently recruiting for Expand All of our current volunteer vacancies can be found on our website. If you have any questions about volunteering or specific volunteer roles, please email us or call us on 0207 787 1042.
Will volunteering affect my benefits? For people concerned about the impact that volunteering at Trinity might have on their benefits Expand No. Volunteering does not affect the benefit payments you may receive. Many people start volunteering when they are unemployed as a way to learn new skills and gain experience to help them find a job.
Will volunteering cost me anything? How reimbursements work for volunteers at Trinity Expand No. We will reimburse reasonable travel and lunch expenses. If you are volunteering in a role that requires you to be registered with a governing body however, we will expect you to be a fully paid up member of that institution and unfortunately we can't help contribute to these costs.