Volunteer to Career for the Armed Forces Programme
Make a big difference
Every day, volunteers make a big difference to the lives of our patients, carers and colleagues across County Durham and Darlington.
Our volunteers generously donate their time, energy and enthusiasm in a wide variety of non-clinical activities to personalise and improve the experience of our patients and their loved-ones. Volunteering complements the work of healthcare staff to provide the best experience possible. Whether it's meeting and greeting people in our hospitals, supporting on wards or within departments or raising money, the helping hands of volunteers reach out to all parts of hospital and community life.
More than 150 people are involved in a range of volunteering activities across our hospital and community sites, and we very much value the contribution they make. We're committed to increasing the recruitment of volunteers and in ensuring our volunteers feel valued.
What do volunteers do?
Our volunteers choose to give their time freely for the benefit of others, and complement the work of our staff within wards and departments, supporting patients, relatives, carers and visitors. Whether it's welcoming and greeting people, spending time chatting with and listening to patients and their relatives, assisting with meal times or volunteer drivers, helping with patient surveys or providing help within our hospital radio, our volunteers are a valuable part of our organisation and help to promote a more friendly, personal and social atmosphere.
Benefits of being a volunteer
The benefits of volunteering include:
- Helps you to become involved in the community
- Helps you to return to work after a break
- Helps you to build your confidence
- Helps you meet new people
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete the volunteer application form.
If you have any other queries, please contact the Patient Experience Team on Freephone: 0800 783 5774 or email: cddft.
Are you a veteran or a family member of someone serving in the armed forces and are looking to explore a career within the NHS? Find out more about the Volunteer to Career for the Armed Forces Programme.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you are aged 16 or over you are eligible to apply to become a volunteer.
It is a requirement of the NHS that you complete an application form in order for us to obtain your details and also to ensure that we match you with an appropriate volunteering role.
It is important for us to establish you are fit to undertake the role you are volunteering for and to identify if any modifications are required to assist you to undertake the role due to working in a health care environment.
A CRB check is required because as a volunteer you will be working with children or vulnerable adults.