Volunteering with the NHS

People decide to volunteer for many different reasons.

If you decide to volunteer, there are a huge variety of roles open to you – from assisting with administration to chatting to patients who may not have any family or friends to visit.

Benefits of volunteering

Volunteering benefits both the volunteers and the people they help.

People that volunteer:

• have an increased sense of well-being
• feel that they are contributing to someone else’s well-being
• participate in a wider social life
• increase their knowledge of health
• learn new skills
• get relevant training
• learn from and are supported by NHS staff
• gain experience in an NHS environment

Training for volunteers

Within the NHS in Scotland, volunteers receive all the training, help and support they need for their role.

How to become a volunteer

You can find out about volunteering opportunities in NHS Scotland by:

• contacting your local NHS board
• searching Volunteer Scotland
• speaking to someone at your local volunteer centre

To apply you’ll need to complete an application form and provide two referees.