Volunteering Opportunities 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. 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. 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 (for some roles this is 18 or over) Be able to make a regular weekly commitment for two or more hours a week at the same time and day each week (exception of Bridge Builder volunteers) Volunteer with us for a minimum of six months Receive and share with us 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 volunteer induction training Current Hospital Based Volunteering Opportunities Recruitment for the following hospitals will open on Monday 20th July, 2026. The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh We will be recruiting 30 new volunteers to join the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Available roles: Ward Helpers – Roles available: Monday to Sunday, 10am -12.30pm or 4.30pm – 6.30pmMeaningful Activity Volunteers – Roles available: Monday to Sunday, 2pm – 4pmMaternity Ward Volunteers – Roles available: Monday to Sunday 10am -12.30pm or 4.30pm – 6.30pmOPD4 Dialysis Volunteer – Roles available: Monday or Tuesday 11am-4pm Group Interview Dates Before applying for any of these roles, please ensure that you can attend one of the following group interview sessions and one of the subsequent group training events. Thursday 13 August, 2pm – 5pmFriday 14 August, 2pm – 5pmThursday 20 August, 2pm – 5pm Group Training Dates Thursday 10 September, 2pm – 5pm Friday 11 September, 2pm – 5pmThursday 17 September, 2pm – 5pm The Western General Hospital (Edinburgh) We will be recruiting 40 new volunteers to join the Western General Hospital. Available Roles: Ward Helpers – This role is available on weekday and weekend morning/afternoons/evenings. Roles available: 20Group Meaningful activity with the Activity Coordinators – This role is available Monday to Friday (daytime). Roles available: 8Self directed Meaningful activity/ ward Visitor – This role is available during the day, in evenings and at weekends. Roles available: 8Shop Trolley – This role is available Monday and Wednesday, 9am – 12pm. Roles available: 3. The role requires a good level of physical fitness to push the shop trolley round the hospital site.ECG department Helper – This role is available Wednesday and Thursday 9am – 1pm. Roles available: 2. Welcome Guide – This role is available, daytime on weekdays. Roles available: 3 Group Interview Dates Before applying for any of these roles, please ensure that you can attend one of the following group interview sessions and one of the subsequent group training events.Wednesday 5 August, 10am – 12pmWednesday 5 August, 3:30pm – 5:30pmFriday 7 August, 10am – 12pmFriday 7 August, 3:30pm – 5:30pm Group Training Dates Friday 14 August, 2:00pm – 4:30pmFriday 21 August, 2:00pm – 4:30pm St John’s Hospital (Livingston) We will be recruiting 30 new volunteers to join St John’s Hospital. Roles available: Ward Visitor Role (Monday–Sunday, 2pm–4pm)This is a befriending role based within the Medicine of the Elderly wards and the Older Adults’ Psychiatric ward, which may include patients living with dementia. The primary purpose of the role is to provide companionship to patients, helping to alleviate feelings of anxiety and boredom during their hospital stay. This position would be well suited to individuals who are good listeners and possess strong communication skills, particularly the ability to initiate and sustain meaningful conversation. An interest in supporting older adults, including those with psychiatric conditions, is essential. Ward Helper Role – Monday to Sunday, 11.30am–1.30pm and 4.30pm–6.30pm. Roles available in: Maternity Ward: Monday to Sunday, 1pm – 3pm and 4pm – 6pm. Gynaecology: Monday to Friday, 9am – 12noon and 4pm – 6pm. A&E Monday to Sunday, 12.30pm – 2.30pm and 4pm – 6pm. Oncology Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 12.30pm. Outpatient Department (OPD) Assistant Volunteer – Roles available: Monday to Friday, 9am–12noon.Discharge Lounge Volunteer – Roles available: Monday to Friday, 10am – 1pm, 1pm – 4pm, and 4pm – 6pm.Welcome Guide – Roles available: Monday to Friday, 9am – 12noon and 12noon – 3pm.Therapet Support Volunteer – Roles available: Monday to Friday, 2pm – 4pm. Group Interview Dates: Before applying for any of these roles, please ensure that you can attend one of the following group interview sessions and one of the subsequent group training events. Friday 14 August, 10am -12noonFriday 14 August, 2pm – 4pmFriday 21 August, 10am – 12noonFriday 21 August, 2pm – 4pm Group Training Dates: Friday 11 September, 9am – 12noonFriday 11 September, 2pm-5pm Volunteering within Mental Health The Royal Edinburgh Hospital The Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH) provides acute and rehabilitative psychiatric and mental health services, including treatment for those with learning disabilities and dementia. Specialist services at REH include centres for the treatment of substance misuse, eating disorders, a forensic unit and a national neurorehabilitation unit for people with an acquired brain injury. Our Volunteer Hub works alongside clinical teams across the hospital to develop and promote a wide range of volunteering opportunities for in-patients, who volunteer alongside members of the public in an ethos of equality. The Hub aims to promote happiness, wellbeing and recovery through meaningful activity. Volunteer roles help create moments of calm, purpose, and achievement, enable people to flourish during difficult times, and enrich the lives of patients and the wider hospital community. The Royal Edinburgh Hospital Volunteer Hub are looking to recruit a small team of Volunteer Gardeners. As the first hospital in Scotland to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award, REH has a reputation for environmental excellence, embedded in its strong commitment to nurture the site’s greenspaces, enhancing connection with nature and promoting wellbeing for the hospital and local communities. Many of the wards have their own enclosed courtyard gardens, so that those unable to leave the ward can still access greenspaces for some peace and reflection. There are also public garden areas where staff, patients and visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Though this is not a patient engagement role, volunteers’ green fingered help will really benefit the hospital community. The role includes undertaking a variety of seasonal, garden-based tasks and outdoor maintenance. Prospective volunteers should already have strong gardening experience and knowledge about outdoor plants, a non-judgemental attitude, as well as initiative and the ability to work independently or as part of a small team. If you would like to help us maintain our greenspaces, we’d love to hear from you! For more information, please contact loth.rehvolunteering@nhs.scot Opportunities to take part in Clinical Research Trials Our Clinical Infection Research Group (CiRG) facilitates research studies for a range of common UK infections e.g., flu and COVID. Many of these studies require volunteers aged 18-99 to take part for example in testing different interventions, e.g., vaccines or sharing experiences. For more information about taking part in clinical research trials you can email CiRG at Loth.CIRGregister@nhs.scot or you can find out more at www.cirg-edinburgh.co.uk Volunteering Opportunities with our Third Sector Partners Within this space we will share the details of any of our third sector charity partners who are recruiting to volunteering roles which are either based within, alongside or as part of NHS Lothian services or buildings or are supporting the health outcomes of people across Lothian. Volunteer Walk Leaders & Back Markers Wanted! 🚶♀️🚶♂️ Do you enjoy walking, meeting new people, and helping others stay active? Ageing Well in East Lothian is looking for friendly volunteers to support our local walking groups. Whether you can help lead a walk or act as a back marker, your support can make a real difference in helping people stay active, connected, and confident. No specialist experience is required, and training and support will be provided. Interested in finding out more?Please get in touch with the Ageing Well team. We’d love to hear from you! 💚 Parvine Woodgerpwoodger@eastlothian.gov.uk07718 117585https://www.activeeastlothian.co.uk/page/ageing-well-37 Volunteer with The Health Agency The Health Agency is a charity based in the Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre dedicated to supporting residents of South-West Edinburgh to lead longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. As part of this they offer several Heath Walks in partnership with Walking Scotland and are currently seeking volunteer Walk Leaders. If you love walking and wish to share your passion and encourage others, they would like to hear from you! To find out more about this opportunity contact frontdesk@thehealthagency.org.uk or phone 0131 453 9400. Edinburgh Buggy Walks Our aim is to provide friendly and manageable walking routes for new parents. Our walks help prevent social isolation and offer a structured way to exercise and gain confidence in a relaxed, inclusive environment. Routes typically last 45 to 60 minutes and conclude at a baby-friendly café, library, or community centre. We are looking for Walk Leaders to support our walks at: Saughton Park and Gardens which is a lovely green space west of the city near Gorgie, Balgreen, and Stenhouse – Mondays at 1:30pm Leith Links which is a spacious park area located two miles northeast of the city centre – Wednesdays at 2pm. Volunteers will attend free Walk Leader training which is a half day course with the option to do online. Ideally we’d like to have volunteer Walk Leaders who understand how difficult it can be during the early stages of parenthood. It can sometimes be very difficult getting places on time and parents can sometimes be anxious about meeting other parents, and if they can stop to breast or bottle feed their children.Please contact Carole at info@buggywalks.co.uk for further information. Canalside Walking Group Do you love walking and chatting to people? We are looking for volunteers to join our team of walk leaders and helpers on our Canalside Walking Groups. Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust have a dementia friendly walking group and a buggy walk. Our volunteer walk leaders help people stay active, healthy and connected with our local community. No previous experience needed, all training and support provided. Curious? Why not join us at the Edinburgh Union Canal for a walk and a chat to find out more. Contact: Fiona@fcct.scot 07706 580 147 www.fcct.scot Volunteer with RNID’s Near You Service Volunteers supporting RNID will make a valuable difference to people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. Any contribution you make as a volunteer, no matter how small, can have a big impact on the people we support in communities across Edinburgh & Lothians. To find out more about their current opportunities with the Near You service follow the link below: RNID Near You volunteer, Lothians/Edinburgh – RNID Volunteer at the Children’s Hospital with Radio Lollipop One in four children are admitted to a hospital before reaching age 14. Radio Lollipop believes in the healing power of play – providing smiles and laughter to children at a time when they need it most. Though some patients are short-stay, many have a recurring need for care and return repeatedly to hospital. Some who are terminally ill spend much of their short lives in hospital. Radio Lollipop gives young patients a voice and a choice during their stay. While they can´t say “no” to taking their medicine or receiving treatment, they can request their favourite songs, win prizes and hear their own voices on the radio. Those activities give youngsters a haven of normality in the hospital day which in other respects is strange, different and often scary. Each Radio Lollipop Volunteer must be aged 18 or older and able to give a commitment of 2 hours per week of interactive play with children using a comprehensive range of fun and interactive activities developed over the years by Radio Lollipop. A broadcast radio studio is part of the armory of activities in our “toy box” and is provided at most of the hospitals where the Radio Lollipop service operates, providing a unique child-orientated programme of interactive competitions, music, stories and games. If you want to be part of the magic that is Radio Lollipop and putting Play In Place of Pain for children spending time in hospital, come along to one of our volunteer information days at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Ground Floor, Out Patients, 50 Little France Crescent Edinburgh EH16 4TJ on: Sunday 21st June 2026, from 2pm to 4pm. Alternatively visit us at Radio Lollipop – Play In Place Of Pain or email us at vcnew.edinburgh@radiolollipop.org. Changes East Lothian Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organisation. They make our mission as a charity possible. As a volunteer you can make a genuine difference to people and help them achieve positive and lasting change in their mental health. You can gain knowledge, skills and experience and get to know new people within your community. Taking time out of your week to help and support others is important and rewarding work. To find out more, visit: Volunteer with Us – Changes Cyrenians OPAL Is a charity based in West Lothian dedicated to supporting people aged 60 and over. Their work focuses on enabling individuals to lead active and fulfilling lives, while fostering strong, inclusive communities that support people to remain independent, living at home, and being socially connected. As part of their work, OPAL offers a range of rewarding volunteering opportunities, including: Volunteer Befriender Community Volunteer Digital Volunteer Volunteer Walk Leader To find out more about these opportunities, please contact:opal@cyrenians.scot 01506 815815 Connecting Communities | Cycling UK You can help and support Cycling UK to achieve their aims by volunteering with Connecting Communities. All of their volunteering roles are advertised online. Roles available include; Marketing – support with putting up posters and creating social media contentHealth Walk Leader – lead a health walk.Cycle Ride Leader – lead a group ride.Learn to Ride Volunteer – Help children or adults to learn to ride or increase cycle skills in group sessions.Buddy ride volunteer – support people cycle for those everyday journeys by showing them their route, practice safety and positioning and offer general route and riding advice.Tandem Cycle Pilot – Ride as a front rider on a tandem bike for blind or partially sighted people and provide support and guidance on and of the bike during a ride. (or on a side by side tandem)Bike Maintenance volunteer – Fix bikes, work within their qualifications/experience. Other volunteering opportunities Can’t find what you’re looking for? Interested in finding alternative volunteering opportunities? Take a look at your local volunteer centre’s opportunities or search Volunteer Scotland using the links below. Volunteer Edinburgh Midlothian Community Action Volunteer Centre East Lothian Voluntary Sector Gateway (West Lothian) Volunteer Scotland
