To be a staff or external volunteer with us you must:

- Be at least 18 years old
- Be able to commit for the minimum period required of the role (usually three, six or 12 months)
- Have been a resident in Great Britain for previous six months
- Take part in a recruitment process involving an interview, references, an enhanced DBS check and induction training

Nothing specific, apart from a bit of time on a regular basis, and the ability to commit to the minimum period required of the role - usually three, six or 12 months, depending on the voluntary role you choose to do.

Please be assured that you will be given any training required and all the support you need to fulfil whichever voluntary role or roles you choose to undertake.

You can get an application form in any of the following ways:

- By emailing VoluntaryServices@standrew.co.uk
- By calling to 01604 616164
- By collecting one from the Voluntary Services Department, St Andrew's Healthcare, Main Building, Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5DG

The application process for external volunteers involves an interview, DBS check, two references, Induction Training and then any additional training that is required for some, but not all of the voluntary roles.

The application process for St Andrew’s staff to become volunteers involves an informal chat and then any additional training that is required for some, but not all of the voluntary roles.

The application process for our Patient (Recovery) Volunteers will usually follow on from the patient’s successful completion of a 12-week placement (via St Andrew’s Employment Support Department). The patient’s support worker is usually present with them at the interview.

For every application, your requirements and skills are then matched to a suitable ward/team/patient, whom you will be introduced to, before you commence your volunteering role.

To the patients:

Volunteers are an external, non-medical link to the outside world for our patients. They know you are giving up your free time to be with them and they value that highly.

Your personality, skills, language, culture, interests and good nature could be just what a patient needs and we are looking for. Particularly if you are matched with patient(s) who don’t have any visits from family or friends or for whom English is not their first language.

What our volunteers bring to our patients is immeasurable really and cannot be provided by anyone other than good natured, compassionate individuals who have chosen to donate some of their own spare time, to make a difference to the lives of others.

The benefits to the individual patient often resonates with the staff and other patients from their wards, plus with their families and friends if they are in touch with them.

To the volunteers:

Volunteering is a very personal thing and people do it for many different reasons. Our existing team of more than 250 volunteers gain as much as they give from volunteering.

"Being part of a team", "a sense of achievement", "giving something back", “personal learning and development”, “making new friends”, “gaining valuable experience”, “socialising”, “making a difference” - these are the main aspects commonly listed by our team as highlights of volunteering.  

Most of our volunteers stay beyond the original commitment required of the role. We have many volunteers with us who have surpassed five, 10, 15, 30 and even 50 years of voluntary service.

To St Andrew’s Healthcare:

We love that our volunteers are individuals who have chosen to contribute to our patients' lives in a way which both they and the patients benefit from.

Staff are always thrilled to have new volunteers join their ward or team to enrich the lives of our patients and we as an organisation are very proud and honoured to have such a wonderful group of individuals to make up our team of amazing volunteers.

We have a variety of volunteering opportunities across all four of our sites, in Northampton, Birmingham, Nottinghamshire and Essex. If you have the time to donate, then I am sure we can find something to suit you and your interests, skills, culture or language. Please check our list of roles to find something that you would like to do.

Any and all dogs are welcome to join our Pets As Therapy team. To become a PATdog volunteer you will need to have owned your dog for at least six months and to register with the national Pets As Therapy Association. We can help you with this.

Our team of PAT dog volunteers do fantastic work within the charity, and our patients enjoy meeting the pets, making a fuss of them and sometimes walking them around our grounds.