Before choosing to volunteer for Leeds Hospitals Charity we expect you might have questions.

We’ve done our best to answer the most common questions that people ask, however, if you don’t find the question you were looking for – please get in touch with Helena and Rachel in the Volunteering Team who will be happy to help.

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: 0113 539 7020

What volunteering opportunities are there?

We often have a variety of volunteering roles on offer at Leeds Hospitals Charity. Some are based on hospital sites and others out in the community.

Volunteering Opportunities

If you don’t see a role for you but are still interested in volunteering, please follow this link to receive email alerts that will keep you up to date with brand new volunteer roles that become available:

New role alerts

How old do I have to be to volunteer for Leeds Hospitals Charity?

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer on hospital sites, and at least 16 years old to volunteer in our other roles.

How much time do I have to give?

If you volunteer in one of our regular roles, such as in one of our shops or in the office, we may ask for you to be able to commit weekly, fortnightly or monthly where this is possible.

However, if you sign up for a more flexible role like an Events Volunteer, we’ll let you know of upcoming events, and you can fit volunteering around your availability.

We’d encourage you to send us an email or give us a call if you’d like to discuss your availability and which roles may be suitable for you.

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: 0113 539 7020

What skills or experience do I need?

Depending on the volunteering role, different skills and experience might come in handy. In all our role profiles we outline what skills are useful for the role, but if you are interested in developing those skills then the role could still be right for you!

Most importantly, we are looking for positive, friendly people to represent the charity and perform the role to the best of their ability.

How do you keep volunteers safe and what support will I receive?

We have a range of policies and procedures to keep volunteers safe and to support you in your role. Our Volunteer Involvement Policy contains an overview of everything we have in place.

Download the Volunteer Involvement Policy

What do you expect from me as a volunteer?

As a volunteer we hope that you will enjoy your experience with us, and most importantly have fun! To understand more about what we expect from volunteers, we ask you to read and adhere to the information in the following documents:

Download the Volunteer Agreement

Download the Volunteer Code of Conduct

Download the Volunteer Handbook

Do you cover expenses?

Leeds Hospitals Charity will reimburse volunteers for reasonable expenses (e.g. travel), as we believe that no volunteer should be out of pocket through volunteering. We do ask that all receipts are retained as proof.

You can download our Volunteer Expenses Policy here

Do you offer corporate volunteering opportunities?

Yes, we do! We have a dedicated Corporate Fundraising team who facilitate all our corporate partnerships, and the opportunity to volunteer with the charity is something we offer.

Previous corporate volunteering groups have helped us with our Christmas gift wrapping and have given green spaces on our hospital grounds some much needed TLC! Get in touch with the Corporate Fundraising team to find out more.

Corporate Fundraising

What training opportunities do you offer?

Volunteers in all roles are asked to complete mandatory training, and depending on your role there may be more training involved. We want all our volunteers to feel comfortable and prepared for their role, and role-specific training will be offered where appropriate.

We are also committed to offering additional optional training opportunities for volunteers to support with ongoing skills development.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

There are loads of benefits of volunteering! You’ll get the opportunity to learn new skills and meet lots of new people, and we hope you’ll get involved in many fun experiences – all whilst helping to support your local hospitals charity.

Will I need to have a DBS check?

Some roles do require volunteers to undergo a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check, this is organised by Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Having a criminal record does not necessarily mean that you can’t volunteer for Leeds Hospitals Charity, but some convictions may require a discussion so we can find the right volunteering role for you.

Do I have to provide references?

For most roles we will ask volunteers to provide two references. When you apply for a role, the application form will highlight the reference criteria for that role.

We will support you with providing references if you struggle with the criteria.

Can I volunteer in the hospital?

Some of our volunteering roles take place on hospital site, such as our Music Volunteer and Retail Volunteer roles. However we do not offer volunteering opportunities on hospital wards. If this is something you are interested in, you will need to contact the Trust’s Voluntary Services Team:

Phone: 0113 206 5888 Email: [email protected]

What happens when I submit an application?

Once you have submitted an application, you will be given login details to access our Volunteer Portal to track the progress of your application.

Not all roles follow the same application process, but usually the next steps are that you will be invited to an informal interview. After this you will be invited to complete training, whilst we complete your references and DBS (where applicable) checks.

Once these stages are complete you will be ready to start in your role, where an induction will take place and any specific training that is required by your role.

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