Telephone:
01983 822099 ext. 6411
Email:
Iownt.volunteer@nhs.net
Address:
Voluntary Services
Isle of Wight NHS Trust
St Mary’s Hospital
Parkhurst
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 5TG
We are recruiting volunteers
Could you help to improve the experience of our patients?
Our Voluntary Service is fortunate to have a wonderful team of caring, compassionate, and dedicated volunteers that selflessly offer their time to support our various services throughout the Trust. Their diverse backgrounds and personal experiences mean that they all bring their own set of skills and array of knowledge which we are all very grateful for.
We are currently accepting applications for the below volunteering opportunities.
- Gaming volunteer (Children's ward)
- Friends and Family Test (FFT) volunteer
- Meet and Greet volunteer (Outpatients B)
- Ward Helper
- Volunteer Administrator
If you would like to apply, please complete and return our application form ensuring you write the title of the role(s) you are applying for on your application form.
All vacancies will be closed on 29 August 2025 or sooner if we receive sufficient applications.
If you are successful in being shortlisted, you will be invited to one of the below Recruitment Sessions.
9.30am - 12pm Wednesday 10 September 2025
9.30am - 1pm Wednesday 24 September 2025
Gaming volunteer - Children's ward
You do not need to be a computer expert for this role
Purpose / Summary of role:
If you enjoy playing gaming consoles this may be the ideal volunteering role for you.
We are seeking volunteers for Children's ward that are confident in maintaining the gaming conoles with updates and downloads. The role will involve organising gaming opportunities for children and young people on the ward and joining in play if requested. Gaming volunteers will also be able to avise on new and popular gaming advancements and enjoy having fun!
Key Activities:
- Console maintenance
- Setting up consoles for play
- Gaming with children and young people in the playroom and bedside
- Sorting games so they are accessible for children and young people
To view the full role description, please click here.
Friends and Family Test (FFT) volunteer
Purpose / Summary of role:
To enhance the quality of life and environment of the patients by proving social and practical help as identified by the Ward/department Manager.
Key Activities:
- To actively engage with our long stay patients, discovering what brings them joy and tailor activities to meet those needs
- Assist the Patient Experience Team with carrying out the Friends & Family Test (FFT) feedback on wards and outpatient areas.
- To engage with service users and patients and encourage them to complete the FFT survey, assisting if required.
- Volunteers will collect data using an iPad to enter responses onto the Patient Experience Feedback System (Gather)
To view the full role description, please click here.
Meet and Greet volunteer - Outpatients B
Purpose / Summary of role:
To ensure we can provide a safe environment within our paediatric waiting area / waiting room
Key Activities:
- To provide regular cleaning to our paediatric waiting room
- To ensure toys are maintained within the paediatric waiting room
- To support patients within the main waiting room – offering water, foot stools etc.
- Supporting patients with way finding around the department
To view the full role description, please click here.
Ward Helper Volunteer
Purpose / Summary of role:
As a Ward Helper you will be based on one of our wards assisting with non-clinical tasks.
The aim of the role is to enhance the quality of life and environment of the patient by providing social and practrical help.
Key Activities:
- Engaging in conversations with patients
- making drinks for patients
- Distributing meals
- Interacting with patients such as by playing games and reading
- To undertake any other duties that may be appropriate in respect of a Ward Helper
To view the full role description, please click here.
Volunteer Administrator
Purpose / Summary of role:
To carryout general administration tasks as required to enhance the services provided by the trust.
Key Activities:
- Answer/make telephone calls
- Scanning
- Printing
- Photocopying
- Filing
- Taking and passing on messages
- Restocking
- Typing
To view the full role description, please click here.
Volunteering requires commitment, both of energy and time. Our volunteers are unpaid – apart from travel expenses – so why do it? There are many reasons, including:
-
Job satisfaction
-
The chance to gain experience and develop new skill
-
Social contact and activity
-
The opportunity to help other people
-
A rewarding and fun experience
Depending on the area they work, our volunteers undertake a wide variety of activities including talking to patients, making teas and coffees, helping to make beds, signposting to services and escorting people around the hospital. By doing that little extra, volunteers can brighten a patients day.
No, you don’t usually need any special skills to be a volunteer at St Mary’s hospital. We provide all volunteers with general training and you will also be given specialised training relevant to your role, if needed. Our volunteers are made up of a diverse range of people and it is more important that they have qualities such as friendliness, a sense of humour, reliability and a genuine wish and willingness to help.
Each volunteer decides how much time they are able to offer. Some people come in for 3 hours a week, others volunteer for 1 to 2 days a week. Normally volunteers will undertake one session of 3-4 hours a week.
We do ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of 6 months so it is important to think carefully about whether volunteering will fit into your life on a regular basis.
We welcome volunteers from the age of 16 and there is no upper age limit.
We are currently accepting applications for the roles advertised on this page.
To apply, please click here to download our application form.
Alternatively, if you would prefer we send you an application form in the post, please contact us:
01983 822099 ext. 6411
iownt.volunteer@nhs.net
What volunteers say...
'Everyday is different – funny, sad, demanding, challenging – but never dull’
‘Volunteering really spices up my life. I would recommend every one of my friends to join in because it is such a great opportunity.’
