How to become a volunteer at West Middlesex University Hospital

Information session

If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer at the hospital, we will be delivering an Information Session on Thursday 15 January 2026 at 4pm.  The session will be held online via Teams. Please download MS Teams and click on the link below. Late attendees will not be admitted.

• Join the meeting

We will be recruiting for the following roles:

Responder Volunteer

Your role will be to provide support to patients, visitors and staff in a variety of hospital areas.

Although your role will not be clinical, you will have a key part to play as it provides the hospital with an extra pair of hands, assisting with non-clinical tasks such as wayfinding, welcoming patients, managing queues in the X ray department, internal pharmacy runs, patient support to the discharge lounge, surveys, admin duties and supporting staff wellbeing.

Shifts are from 9am–1pm and 1–4pm on weekdays.

Ward Helper Volunteer

The ward helper role provides patient contact and a good insight into and experience of working in a hospital. The main volunteer tasks are focussing on three areas in the patient experience pathway:

• Patient Wellbeing: Supporting patient engagement/chatting/ward introduction list/tv set up support/activities
• Physical recovery: Supporting meal times/moving where appropriate /physio exercise support
• Patient Flow: Supporting the patient discharge from the ward/the admissions of new patients/admission screening tool support/pharmacy collections/laboratory samples

The role provides the ward with an extra pair of hands, assisting with non-clinical tasks such as chatting to patients, supporting patients during meal times, making drinks and running errands like pharmacy runs for staff and patients or supporting patients getting ready for discharge.

Shifts are from 11:30am–2:30pm and 5–7:30pm on weekdays and weekends.

A&E Volunteer

This role involves spending time with patients and supporting those who are important to them, offering refreshments and reassurance. Accompanying patients to other areas of the hospital and keeping them up to date with developments and waiting times. As well as supporting staff with various tasks to help the efficient running of the department.

Shifts are from 1–5pm on weekdays and weekends.

Administration Support Volunteer

Volunteers support various outpatients departments in the hospital. This could involve reminding patients about their appointments, rescheduling, entering data and ad hoc administration duties. Shifts are either in the morning or afternoon, weekdays

Horticultural/Gardening Volunteer

This role helps to maintain the CW+ gardens around the hospital. Volunteers will get involved with future garden space projects and ad-hoc maintenance. CW+ is the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust. Shifts are flexible.

Play Assistant Volunteer—Paediatric Ward 

This role supports the holistic care of patients and their families and needs to be 21+. As a volunteer you will entertain children by using toys, games and sensory tools and sport their families whilst they are with us. the role requires you to provide fun and interaction as well as support the Play Team in their duties. Both children and parents need supporting during their time with us and you will play an important role in providing this.

Shifts are morning and afternoon, weekdays 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm.

Pets as Therapy Volunteer

Accompanied by your friendly canine companions, as a volunteer with a dog, you will visit patients on the wards to provide company to patients and have a chat. Interacting with a friendly pet can help many physical and mental issues. Varied shifts available.

PAT Training provided. You can find out more about becoming a Pets as Therapy Volunteer here 

Butterfly Volunteer

The Butterfly Volunteers support the Ward teams and Palliative Care Team to provide a supportive and peaceful presence to patients who are in the last weeks, days or hours of their life.

You will provide companionship to patients who have been identified as nearing the end of their life - this could involve listening, chatting, reading or simply holding their hand.

You might also support and advocate for the family or those who are important to the patients with respite and signposting where needed.

If you are a calm, kind and compassionate person with good listening skills, this might be the role for you.

• Find out more about the process to become a volunteer