Welcome to our volunteering opportunities webpage!
This is where you can read about all the volunteering roles available across NHS Lothian. Whether you are looking to volunteer at a large hospital or would prefer to volunteer at a smaller community hospital, we have you covered. We also have opportunities for you to do community-based volunteering or take up a volunteering role with the NHS Lothian Charity or Screening and Early Detection Team. Finally, if you are a younger person (16 – 25) and feel like you’d need a bit more support to volunteer than is offered in our core volunteering programme, we have a dedicated Youth Volunteering programme available.
Please use the dropdowns below to find out information about the sites you can volunteer at across NHS Lothian and the roles available at each site. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that there are sites close to your home/work/school that you were not aware of! To find out all about the different tasks and activities you can get involved in as a volunteer, you can download the role descriptions available at each site too!
If you wish to apply to become an NHS Lothian volunteer, please fill in our online volunteering application form.
Got question? Check out our volunteering FAQs page which answers some of the most commonly asked questions about volunteering with us.
Please note that to volunteer with us you need to:
- Be aged 16 or over
- Be able to make a regular commitment of two or more hours a week
- Volunteer with us for a minimum of six months
- Receive satisfactory appropriate clearance from Disclosure Scotland (this is completed by us as part of your application, you do not need to pay for this yourself)
- Where applicable receive occupational health clearance for agreed role
- Actively participate and engage in our core volunteer induction training
Community Volunteering in Midlothian
We have several exciting community projects in Midlothian that you can volunteer in.
Carer Relief Companion Volunteers
Carer Relief Companions visit someone in their home offering companionship and social activities such as dominoes, crafts or reminiscing, whilst their loved one gets some time to themselves to reduce stress. The role can be carried out during daytime, evening or weekends, usually at the same time each week. No personal care or manual handling is required within this role.
Fancy a Blether Befrienders
Fancy a Blether Befrienders are matched with a person for a weekly meeting or phone call to reduce loneliness and social isolation and help people to build confidence and try new things. This flexible role can be carried out during the evening and weekends and at different times each week.
Extra Care Housing Volunteers
Extra Care Housing Activity Leaders, Visitors and Befrienders with Driving enhance wellbeing and reduce loneliness for tenants through one to one conversations, group activities and excursions.
Volunteer with the Older People’s Mental Health Team
There is opportunity to be placed as a volunteer directly with the Older People’s Mental Health Team in Midlothian Health & Social Care Partnership, gaining a unique insight into the work they do whilst giving one to one support to their clients. The team consists of Community Psychiatric Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Post Diagnostic Support Workers, Clinical Support Workers and Community Care Assistants. They predominately work with clients aged 65+ living with dementia or mental illness, including depression, anxiety, psychosis or bipolar affective disorder. Volunteers will be matched with one of their clients to give befriending support, either in the client’s home or local community.
Hospital based Volunteering in East Lothian
East Lothian Community Hospital, EH41 3PF
About this site
The East Lothian Community Hospital (ELCH) is a three-story hospital based in Haddington with a total of 6 wards. Services provided by the hospital include: Step-Down Care, Medicine for Elderly, Dementia Care, Continuing Care for Elderly, Endoscopy, IV therapy, Shared Therapies, and an out patients department including mental health, children’s services, and phototherapy service.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer
Ward Helper
Hospital based Volunteering in Midlothian
Midlothian Community Hospital, EH22 3ND
About this site
Midlothian Community Hospital is based near Bonnyrigg and provides inpatient care for frail elderly, and frail elderly with mental health conditions. It also includes a day hospital for older people with mental health problems, a dedicated physiotherapy and occupational therapy service, an out-patient department (including x-ray service), child health clinics, and a range of other health services. Volunteers at Midlothian Community Hospital get to build relationships week on week as many of the older patients with psychiatric illnesses can have quite long stays.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer, Ward Helper
Hospital based Volunteering in West Lothian
St John’s Hospital, EH54 6PP
About this site
St John’s Hospital is a modern teaching hospital that provides a comprehensive and expanding range of services including: Medicine of the Elderly, Oncology, Maternity, Ear, Nose and Throat, the Regional Eating Disorder Unit and Stroke Medicine. The hospital is based in Livingston, and has a 24-hour Accident and Emergency department.
Roles currently available at this site
A&E Helper, Outpatient Department Helper, Meaningful Activity Volunteer, Ward Helper, Welcome Guide, Book Service, Ward Visitor
We are also recruiting volunteers to support the Marie Curie Unit which is based at St Johns Hospital. If you are a driver, have some spare time on Wednesdays and would be willing to offer transport support to patients attending the Marie Curie Unit then this Volunteer Driver role might be for you. For more information, contact Claire Garton on 01506 523 588.
Tippethill House Hospital, EH48 3BQ
About this site
The hospital specialises in short term and respite care and is split into two wards. Bailie Ward specialises in medical care and respite. Rosebery Ward offers mental health care. Volunteers help the patients engage in activities one to one or in groups to keep mentally and physically active.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer
Maple Villa, EH54 5BU
About this site
Maple Villa provides continuing care for male patients with a diagnosis of dementia. Volunteers help the patients engage in activities one to one or in groups to keep mentally and physically active. Volunteers also help maintain the gardens in Maple Villa and to support the staff in new gardening type meaningful activities with patients.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer
Gardening Volunteer
Sunndach, EH54 6GX
About this site
Sunndach is part of Children’s Services within the Lothian University Division caring for children with complex disabilities who require a high level of nursing and medical care within a community based environment.
Roles currently available at this site
Activity Helper
Hospital based Volunteering in Edinburgh
Astley Ainslie Hospital, EH9 2HL
About this site
The Astley Ainslie Hospital provides a range of rehabilitation services for adults with acquired brain injury, stroke, orthopaedic injuries, limb amputation, and progressive neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Volunteers help by providing a range of practical and social support to patients.
Roles currently available at this site
Ward Visitor
Calaréidh, EH15 3LA
About this site
Calaréidh is part of Children’s Services within the Lothian University Division caring for children with complex disabilities who require a high level of nursing and medical care within a community-based environment.
Roles currently available at this site
Activity Helper
Ellen’s Glen House, EH16 6FF
About this site
Ellen’s Glen House is a two-ward unit for people who need care and treatment that can only be given in a hospital or specialist NHS unit. Hawthorn ward specialises in care of people with complex clinical needs providing palliative & end of life care. Thistle ward is a specialist unit for older people with mental health conditions.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer, Mealtime Helper
Ferryfield House, EH5 2HF
About this site
Ferryfield House is a two-ward unit for people who need care and treatment that can only be given in a hospital or specialist NHS unit. Rowan ward specialises in care of people with complex clinical needs providing palliative & end of life care. Willow ward is a specialist dementia unit providing care to minimise feelings of confusion, anxiety and distress.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer, Mealtime Helper
Lauriston Building, EH3 9EN
About this site
The Lauriston Building provides high quality outpatient services in a variety of clinics at Lauriston Place in Edinburgh. Its services include ear, nose and throat (ENT), dermatology, and orthopaedics.
Roles currently available at this site
Outpatient Department Assistant Mon – Fri (9am – 3pm)
Welcome Guide Mon – Fri (9am – 3pm)
Liberton Hospital, EH16 6UB
About this site
Liberton Hospital provides intermediate care for patients, usually above the age of 65, who are either unable to return home or remain home after illness or injury and would benefit from a period of inpatient recovery with rehabilitation and re-ablement.
Roles currently available at this site
Meaningful Activity Volunteer
Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, EH3 9HA
About this site
The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion (PAEP) provides specialist care for the treatment and management of diseases and conditions affecting the eye and eyesight.
Roles currently available at this site
Outpatient Department Assistant Mon – Fri (9am – 3pm)
Ward Helper
Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, EH16 4TJ
About this site
The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People is NHS Lothian’s tertiary paediatric hospital. It provides acute, general and specialist care to the children of Lothian and South-East Scotland.
Recruitment is currently paused at this site.
Roles at this site:
Play Volunteer
Ward Visitor
Welcome Guide
A&E Helper
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, EH16 4SA
About this site
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is a major acute teaching hospital located in South Edinburgh. With a 24-hour accident and emergency department, it provides a full range of acute medical and surgical services for patients from across Lothian and specialist services for people from across the south-east of Scotland and beyond.
Roles currently available at this site:
A&E Helper, Clothing Store Helper, Outpatient Department Helper, Meaningful Activity Volunteer, Ward Helper
Other roles at this site: Welcome Guide
Western General Hospital, EH4 2XU
About this site
The Western General Hospital provides a comprehensive range of general and specialist services to the people of Edinburgh, Lothian and beyond. The hospital is home to the regional centre for Cancer and Infectious Diseases Unit, and the award-wining, nurse-led Minor Injuries Clinic.
Roles currently available at this site:
Outpatient Department Helper, Meaningful Activity Volunteer, Ward Helper, Welcome Guide, Shop Trolley Service Volunteer
Lothian Wide Volunteering Roles
Screening and Early Detection Team
We have a unique opportunity available to volunteer within our Screening and Early Detection Team as a Volunteer Champion for our National Screening Programme. If you can communicate in English and in any ethnic minority language and would like to work alongside our colleagues in Public Health, this role could be for you.
Patient Experience Team
NHS Lothian is committed to providing quality care to patients and their families. The Patient Experience team works with services across NHS Lothian to support them gaining feedback from patients to help them understand what they are doing well and the areas where they could improve.
The Patient Experience team is looking for Patient Experience Volunteers who will interact with patients, families and carers to hear about their experience of care and treatment through conducting surveys, interviews or promotional events. You must have strong communication skills, be willing to approach people and able to collect information in a systematic way.
Training will be provided on the value of gathering patient experience information, ways of gathering patient experience, tasks that will be undertaken, and how to handle difficult conversations.
Youth Volunteering
For information on our Youth Volunteering programmes visit our Youth Volunteering page.
NHS Lothian Volunteering Opportunities with our Third Sector Partners
Hospital Link Volunteer with Rowan Alba
Rowan Alba matches Befriending Volunteers with people who have been admitted to hospital because of alcohol related harm, past or present. The Volunteer visits them either in the hospital during their stay or when they are discharged and return home.
- Interviews for this role are being scheduled from now to mid May 2024
- Inductions will begin in mid May 2024
- Volunteering will commence in June / July 2024
- Time commitment: 2 hours per week plus travel time for a minimum of 9 months
If you would like to volunteer for this role, please visit Rowan Alba’s website or you can contact their Volunteer Co-Ordinator Keira directly at kiera.russell@rowanalba.org for more information.
