Bridge Builders Volunteering Supporting people, reducing barriers, improving outcomes. What are Bridge Builders? Bridge Builders are volunteers who accompany people who may need extra support to attend appointments in the healthcare system. The model was originally developed by Social Health in Denmark in 2013 and expanded nationwide by 2023. A pilot will be conducted in NHS Lothian to test the Bridge Builder model in a Scottish context and to evaluate its impact. Research: Tonnesen & Momsen (2023). Bridging gaps in health? A qualitative study about bridge-building and social inequity in Danish healthcare. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 18(1), 2241235. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2241235 Valentin et al. (2023). Bridging inequity gaps in healthcare systems while educating future healthcare professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6837). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196837 Valentin et al. (2025). Bridging inequity gaps in healthcare through tailored support. BMC Health Services Research, 25:208. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12359-8 What does a Bridge Builder do? Volunteers help bridge the gap between people and professionals, supporting people to navigate their appointments and have a clear understanding of what comes next. A Bridge Builder will: Accompany people to and from their hospital appointments, helping them to navigate the hospital environment. Support communication and understanding by being an extra pair of ears during consultations. Spend time after the appointments to ensure understanding of next steps. Please see the volunteer role description for further information. Who can volunteer? We work in partnership with universities and colleges to recruit students pursuing a career in healthcare. This role offers a unique opportunity for practice-based learning in real-life settings, helping students to become more knowledgeable and compassionate healthcare professionals. We are looking for students who: Are passionate about person-centred care. Have strong communication and listening skills. Are reliable, compassionate and respectful. Want to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. Why join Bridge Builders? Bridge Builders offers experiential learning that deepens understanding of health inequalities and the importance of compassionate care. Bridge Builder volunteers will: Gain first-hand experience of the challenges people face when accessing healthcare. Develop stronger communication and empathy skills. Receive comprehensive training, supervision and support from NHS Lothian staff. Be part of a pioneering project shaping future healthcare models. Contact If you would like to be added to our mailing list for future opportunities, please email: loth.bridgebuilders.nhs.scot
