Volunteering opportunities in health and social care

Volunteers play an important role in health and services, working as partners alongside skilled staff, not as substitutes for them.

There are volunteering opportunities in charities and voluntary service organisations across Hertfordshire and west Essex, as well as in NHS and council services. Volunteering is an excellent way to contribute to your community, gain new skills and experiences, and make a difference to others. 

Volunteering as a patient representative

Patient representatives help the ICB and local health services to hear from patients and carers when providing or planning services.

If you want to volunteer as a patient representative your local practice patient group is a good place to start. Hospitals and community health services also have patient groups.

Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board welcomes patient volunteers for the following roles which help us to see health services through the eyes of patients:

• being part of our reader panel
• taking part in quality assurance visits to hospitals or other health services
• joining a working group that is involved in developing services
• joining our patient engagement forum.

We will give you induction, support and training as needed.

Volunteering opportunities with hospital services

Volunteering for your local hospital. Volunteers carry out a wide variety of roles in hospital settings, such as helping to run coffee shops and helping visitors find their way around. You can find contact details for your local NHS Trust via the NHS England directory.

Volunteering with local charities and community organisations

You can also volunteer with organisations who work alongside the NHS to support staff and patients.

• For volunteering opportunities in Hertfordshire go to GoVolHerts. This has information about 800 roles to choose from at more than 280 organisations.
• For volunteering opportunities in west Essex go to Volunteer Essex.

You can also find about local volunteering opportunities by contacting your local volunteering centre. You can find details of the centre covering your area on the National Council for Voluntary organisations website.