Volunteer with us

Volunteer with us
Two Barts Health volunteers stand together at Whipps Cross Hospital

Shape your story as a volunteer

Our dedicated volunteers offer practical and emotional support to our patients

They also provide a helping hand for our staff and a friendly face for our visitors.

They can support the hospital in several ways from welcoming and directing visitors, giving out refreshments on the wards or chatting to patients. 

Our recruitment process can take from one to three months. It will depend on how quickly you complete necessary checks and stages. 

Apply online

Our dedicated volunteers

Our volunteers are inspiring, passionate and caring

And we would like it to be a valuable experience for you too.

You’ll make new friends, meet and work with new people from all walks of life, learn new skills and gain new experience.

Our volunteers tell us they feel more confident and happy by giving back and helping others.

Find out more

Our dedicated volunteers - video

Our dedicated volunteers - video

Our dedicated volunteers

With over 1,000 volunteers across our hospitals, they truly are at the heart of Barts Health.

We’re proud to stand alongside them.

“Every day, I see the extraordinary impact our volunteers have, offering reassurance, comfort, and practical support in ways that clinical care alone cannot.” – Caroline Alexander, chief nurse, Barts Health.

🎥 This video was filmed by one of our talented volunteers.

Barts Health volunteer behind a screen at The Royal London Hospital

Get in touch

If you’d like to learn more before you apply, please phone us

Volunteering across the Barts Health: 020 7377 7792

Newham: 020 7363 8107

St Bartholomew's: 020 3765 8897 

The Royal London: 020 7377 7334

Whipps Cross: 020 8535 6772

  • I volunteer because I have a lot of personal inpatient experience and know how dreadfully lonely and scary a hospital ward can be.

    When Archie first came to our family, I noticed right away that he was incredibly gentle and friendly to everyone. He was certified as a therapy dog when he was just 9 months old and has been volunteering with Barts NHS Trust for several years now.

    Watching Archie befriend patients, many of whom are in desperate need of a cuddle, is humbling. He seems to know exactly where to situate himself, being ever mindful of wires, cables, sore spots. Archie's favourite thing, however, is getting enthusiastic greetings from staff. He really enjoys all the attention and warm affection from everyone he meets. 

    It is a real honour and privilege to be a Barts Health volunteer. 

    — Suzy and Archie

    I volunteer because I have a lot of personal inpatient experience and know how dreadfully lonely and scary a hospital ward can be.

    When Archie first came to our family, I noticed right away that he was incredibly gentle and friendly to everyone. He was certified as a therapy dog when he was just 9 months old and has been volunteering with Barts NHS Trust for several years now.

    Watching Archie befriend patients, many of whom are in desperate need of a cuddle, is humbling. He seems to know exactly where to situate himself, being ever mindful of wires, cables, sore spots. Archie's favourite thing, however, is getting enthusiastic greetings from staff. He really enjoys all the attention and warm affection from everyone he meets. 

    It is a real honour and privilege to be a Barts Health volunteer. 

    — Suzy and Archie

  • Without the support of the volunteers, the Complementary Therapies Service would not be operational. The service supports Trust patients that are living with cancer or that have palliative care needs. 

    I am so lucky to head a team of such dedicated volunteer therapists and the quality of the therapy service provided by the volunteers is exceptional. 

    — Neil, Therapies 

    Without the support of the volunteers, the Complementary Therapies Service would not be operational. The service supports Trust patients that are living with cancer or that have palliative care needs. 

      I am so lucky to head a team of such dedicated volunteer therapists and the quality of the therapy service provided by the volunteers is exceptional. — Neil, Therapies

  • I started volunteering with Barts NHS Trust because I wanted to give back to the community while also gaining experience in a UK hospital setting, as I work as a healthcare support worker myself.

    What I enjoy most is being part of a dedicated team, meeting people from all walks of life, and seeing how small gestures, like offering a warm welcome or helping someone find their way, or even making a cup of coffee, can bring real comfort.

    Volunteering has deepened my appreciation for the incredible hard work and compassion that healthcare workers bring to their roles every day to make life easier for others.

    — David

    I started volunteering with Barts NHS Trust because I wanted to give back to the community while also gaining experience in a UK hospital setting, as I work as a healthcare support worker myself. What I enjoy most is being part of a dedicated team, meeting people from all walks of life, and seeing how small gestures, like offering a warm welcome or helping someone find their way, or even making a cup of coffee, can bring real comfort. Volunteering has deepened my appreciation for the incredible hard work and compassion that healthcare workers bring to their roles every day to make life easier for others.

  • The volunteers that come and assist in outpatients are truly amazing and inspirational.

    They all have a very positive approach to the tasks that they kindly do to assist us, normally helping give directions to patients and fold letters, and do call reminding for patients, and help with any general enquiries that might arise on the front desk.

    — Carolyne, Admin Supervisor

    The volunteers that come and assist in outpatients are truly amazing and inspirational, they all have a very positive approach to the tasks that they kindly do to assist us, normally helping give directions to patients and fold letters, and do call reminding for patients, and help with any general enquiries that might arise on the front desk — Carolyne, Admin Supervisor

  • I love volunteering at The Royal London Hospital as it allows me to support others in a meaningful way.

    One of the things I like most is the variety of tasks we get to do – whether it’s taking out medication from the pharmacy to the wards (TTO’s) or spending time with patients through befriending, where we chat with them and ask them how their day has been.

    These moments give me a chance to support patients directly but also while building communication skills and understanding the enormous importance of kindness in healthcare.

    — Fabiha

    I love volunteering at The Royal London Hospital as it allows me to support others in a meaningful way. One of the things I like most is the variety of tasks we get to do – whether it’s taking out medication from the pharmacy to the wards (TTO’s) or spending time with patients through befriending, where we chat with them and ask them how their day has been. These moments give me a chance to support patients directly but also while building communication skills and understanding the enormous importance of kindness in healthcare.

    — Fabiha

  • The volunteers make a tremendous difference here at SDEC -not only for our patients and visitors, but also for the entire staff. Whether they're offering a reassuring presence in the waiting area, helping someone find their way, or simply sharing a kind word, they bring warmth and humanity to our hospital.

    We truly consider them part of the team, and we genuinely enjoy working alongside them. Their compassion, initiative, and positive spirit are deeply appreciated by all of us

    — John, Senior Nurse SDEC

    The volunteers make a tremendous difference here at SDEC -not only for our patients and visitors, but also for the entire staff. Whether they're offering a reassuring presence in the waiting area, helping someone find their way, or simply sharing a kind word, they bring warmth and humanity to our hospital.

    We truly consider them part of the team, and we genuinely enjoy working alongside them. Their compassion, initiative, and positive spirit are deeply appreciated by all of us — J ohn, Senior Nurse SDEC

  • I had a heart attack in January 2024 and was saved and looked after by the wonderful people at St Bartholomew's Hospital.

     

    On the back of this I decided to retire and really wanted to give something back to the hospital so applied to become a volunteer. I have always enjoyed helping people and I know only too well how challenging and confusing a visit to a hospital can be. 

     

    The role has helped give me back my faith in people. Some of the patients we interact with are going through a really difficult time, yet many of them do this with a smile on their face, humour, and a real gratitude for what we do…

     

    I find this inspiring and often leave a shift feeling emotional (in a good way) and with a different perspective on my own “problems.”

    - Peter

    I had a heart attack in January 2024 and was saved and looked after by the wonderful people at St Bartholomew's Hospital.

     

    On the back of this I decided to retire and really wanted to give something back to the hospital so applied to become a volunteer. I have always enjoyed helping people and I know only too well how challenging and confusing a visit to a hospital can be. 

     

    So whether it’s helping someone find their way to an appointment; serving them a drink and biscuit with a smile; or taking time to sit with a patient for a bit of company, it feels great to know that you are making a difference.

     

    The role has helped give me back my faith in people. Some of the patients we interact with are going through a really difficult time, yet many of them do this with a smile on their face, humour, and a real gratitude for what we do…

     

    I find this inspiring and often leave a shift feeling emotional (in a good way) and with a different perspective on my own “problems”

     

    - Peter