Volunteering

Alder Hey Volunteers receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Our volunteers with the Queen's Award for Volunteering Services

We are proud to have received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It is the highest award a voluntary service can receive in the UK and is a testament to all of our amazing volunteers, who give up their own time to enhance the experience of our children and young people and their families.

Volunteering with Alder Hey

Our volunteers have told us that giving their time is an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable experience, allowing them to meet friends, gain new skills and contribute to the community.

The first step to becoming a volunteer is to attend one of our recruitment sessions. These sessions will include all the information you need and also provide you with a chance to ask any questions. They will also include an informal small group interview.

Upcoming Recruitment Sessions

We have the following recruitment sessions:

Wednesday 20th September 2023, Lecture Theatre 2 from 10am to 4pm
Wednesday 25th October 2023, Lecture Theatre 2 from 10am to 4pm
Thursday 18th January 2024, Lecture Theatre 2 from 10am to 4pm
Tuesday 5th March 2024, Lecture Theatre 2 from 10am to 4pm

Each recruitment session is from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Please email [email protected] to book your place for an upcoming recruitment session. Please include your email address and contact number in the email.

Due to current capacity, please be aware we are currently only accepting applications from those ages 18 and above.

All volunteers must be able to commit to a 12 month commitment of a minimum of four hours per week.

Volunteer roles include:

Meet and greet in the atrium
Ward/department receptionist
Ward mealtime support
Volunteer in our A&E department
Play Support/Bedtime reading
Ward companions
Admin support
Family Friends Test/ survey
Family support
Baby Cuddling
PALS support
Gardening
Christmas/Events
Performing
Arts and crafts
Facepainting
Patient Safety
Smoke patrol
Young Volunteers
Quality rounds

All our volunteers must complete the following recruitment process:

Attend a recruitment session.
Complete an enhanced adult and child DBS check (provided by the Alder Hey).
Occupational Health check.
Two references.
Mandatory training.
Complete a six-week induction period.

As a volunteer, we will support you by providing all relevant training and we will offer any additional sessions that may be of interest to you to enhance your role. We will provide free parking, travel expenses (£4.50 maximum per day), refreshment breaks and provide you with your volunteer uniform t-shirt for a £5 refundable deposit.

If you are looking for work experience within Alder Hey, please direct your enquiries to [email protected].

The important role our volunteers play

Volunteers complement the roles of paid staff; they do not replace them. Careful consideration has therefore been given to activities that volunteers undertake. Volunteers do not provide core services; instead, they provide support which adds value to services and the roles of paid staff.

Holly our Cuddle Manager

Holly our therapy dog and her owner Barry

Holly and her owner Barry are also part of our volunteering family.

Barry and Holly, visit several times per week and visit our Atrium, Outpatient department, wards and newly opened Sunflower House. It’s really important than before and after Holly has had a cuddle or a stroke we wash our hands to reduce any risk of germs or infection.

For any therapy dogs lots of assessments and checks need to be done to ensure they are the perfect temperament and they also have to have all their vaccines.

Evidence has shown that pet therapy can reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation, encourage communication and social skills, and provide comfort during stressful times, such as during medical treatment Additionally, depression and anxiety levels usually decrease in patients who receive pet therapy.

Barry and Holly can also be requested to spend time with individual service users at Alder Hey such as those who are missing their own pets during a long stay and those with fears or phobias of dogs.

Pet therapy is not permitted in the following clinical areas; critical care floor, ward 3B, isolation rooms, ward 1C (neonatal / cardiology unit), treatment rooms, kitchens, pharmacies and in rooms of patients that are immunocompromised. Holly also can’t visit during meal times.

We know how much our children, young people and families enjoy seeing Holly and it’s the same for our Alder Hey colleagues who look forward to meeting Holly and Barry on their travels across the hospital

For any enquiries about Holly please email [email protected]

You can find out more about Pets as Therapy Charity.