Here's how to make positive change as hospitals and hospices prepare for influx of volunteers

Helpforce reports that January is one of the busiest periods for people stepping forward to gift their time and talents to healthcare.

And with around 100,000 people already helping out in clinics and wards nationwide, individuals can choose from a staggering 300 volunteer roles – from supporting the first phases of life to easing final farewells, and everything in between.

As well as bolstering stretched services, healthcare volunteering brings a sense of purpose and connection that can transform lives, including those of volunteers themselves.

The journeys of Tricia Farrell, who brought warmth to families at a baby clinic, and Nicole Lambert, who held the hands of hospice patients in their final days, reveal just how deeply volunteers touch lives at every stage.

Tricia’s story:

For Tricia Farrell, volunteering meant cradling tiny lives in her hands – gently weighing newborn babies, measuring their growth, and offering calm reassurance to couples taking their first uncertain steps into parenthood.

At a baby clinic near her home in Bradford, Tricia became a familiar, friendly presence for families attending appointments. Working alongside nurses and midwives, she supported both staff and parents, bringing warmth, patience and time to listen in a busy clinical setting.

Her path to NHS volunteering was one of reinvention and resilience. Tricia had already built a successful career as a senior project manager, working on brand packaging for major supermarkets. Yet ever since the birth of her daughter, Amy, 15 years ago, she had quietly carried a desire to work in healthcare.

“The midwives who helped bring Amy into the world were so magnificent and compassionate,” said Tricia, now 53. “They gave me a feeling that I wanted to do something that really made a difference to people’s lives. But every time I thought about acting on the urge, life got in the way.”

A turning point came during the pandemic. Tricia’s stepmother became seriously ill, and the care she received in hospital left a lasting impression. “Every time I went to visit her, I felt powerfully drawn to the ward – it was a special place full of special people,” she said. At the same time, COVID brought a sense of frustration. “I had a burning desire to help people on the hospital frontline, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have the skills or qualifications to get a job in the NHS.”

When voluntary redundancy was offered at her creative marketing agency, Tricia saw her chance. With the support of her husband, James, she enrolled on a health and social access course, taking her first concrete steps towards a new career.

During her studies, Tricia was encouraged to explore healthcare volunteering and applied to Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. Following an initial interview, she was invited to volunteer at a local baby clinic – an opportunity that felt both daunting and deeply meaningful.

Initially, her role focused on greeting parents and helping with clinic logistics. “One of the nurses said to me, ‘Tricia, you don’t need to stand to attention. You can just relax,’” she recalled. “I felt a bit out of my depth at first, but the team were so supportive, and I soon began to find my feet.”

As her confidence grew, Tricia took on more responsibility. She began measuring and weighing babies, completing Red Books, and sharing information with parents. She was trained to spot potential concerns – such as inconsistencies in a baby’s growth – and to alert staff nurses when needed.

What she valued most was the human connection. “Sometimes it’s just nice for the mums to come and chat and talk about their experiences,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t have anybody outside of their home circle. As a volunteer, I have time to listen.”

Tricia’s volunteering proved transformative. It helped her secure a place on a nursing degree course, alongside a part-time paid role as a healthcare assistant at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where she worked across different departments, including the labour ward.

“One day I was on duty in the birthing centre and I helped two midwives to deliver a baby boy,” she said. “It was amazing. I was buzzing.”

Now nearing qualification, Tricia is set to become a registered nurse in March, with a job already lined up in A&E at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Despite her demanding schedule, she plans to continue volunteering.

Her message to others considering NHS volunteering is simple and emphatic: “You can pursue a new path at any stage of life. A lot of my friends are winding down their careers – I’m just beginning to wind mine up.”

Nicole’s story:

For Nicole Lambert, volunteering meant stepping quietly into people’s homes at the most vulnerable moment of their lives – sitting with those who were dying, offering calm reassurance, gentle conversation and compassionate presence when it mattered most.

As part of her volunteering at Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate, Nicole worked alongside healthcare assistants in the hospice Home Service, visiting patients in their own homes. It was here that she discovered the profound impact of simply being there: listening, helping with small practical tasks, and supporting patients and families through the final stages of life with dignity and care.

Yet her journey into hospice volunteering was far from straightforward. As a teenager, Nicole had dreamed of becoming a paramedic. She completed a pre-nursing course at college and began a BTEC in Science and Health Studies, but real-life pressures soon intervened. She had to give up her studies to earn a living and began working as a retail assistant, later moving into business sales.

Nicole spent years travelling the UK selling branded company merchandise. She got married, had a son, and carried on working – more out of habit and loyalty than any sense of fulfilment. Her ambition to work in healthcare slowly slipped out of reach.

A turning point came when her father-in-law, David, became ill and was supported by the day clinics at Saint Michael’s Hospice. The experience brought home to Nicole just how vital end of life care can be. A few years later, when her mum and stepdad also became ill, the feeling that she needed a change became impossible to ignore.

“I got no satisfaction out of my job anymore and it made me feel really low. I was doing it for all the wrong reasons,” said Nicole. “I wanted to start over and have a new career in the medical field, but I had no idea how to go about it. That’s when an administrative job came up at the hospice.”

In September 2023, Nicole was thrilled to secure the role of hospice and client services administrator at Saint Michael’s. From the moment she walked through the door, she felt she had found where she belonged.

“I loved the job immediately. It gave me lots of contact with people and I got to learn about all the different functions of the hospice,” she said. “But the idea of doing something clinical had never really left me. Originally, I wanted to be a paramedic, saving lives, but once I joined the hospice team, I knew that palliative care was perfect for me.”

Nicole had heard about a special programme pioneered called Volunteer to Career - developed by Helpforce – which supports people to transition from volunteering roles into paid healthcare careers. As part of the programme, Nicole volunteered for four hours a week across a range of hospice services. Alongside the Home Service, she supported in-patients by helping with meals and general healthcare tasks, working closely with nurses and doctors. She also shadowed doctors and physiotherapists in the Breathing Spaces clinic, supporting patients with respiratory difficulties, and spent time at the Wellbeing drop-in centre, offering coffee and conversation to bereaved families and terminally ill patients.

Although she valued every placement, it was the hands-on care with in-patients that ultimately felt right. When a healthcare assistant role became available, Nicole applied – and was overjoyed to be offered the job.

Nicole says the change has transformed her life. “At the age of 49 I now have the job satisfaction that was missing from my life. It is very uplifting to support people through their final journey and see family members come out the other side, knowing they have done everything they can for their loved one. There is a great sense of care and love.”

Nicole recommends the Volunteer to Career programme wholeheartedly. “The biggest worry I had about switching careers was making a mistake and regretting it. VtC gave me the chance to try it out – and now I’ve found my niche.”

And while some worry that hospice work might be emotionally draining, Nicole sees it differently. “Death is part of life and we need to learn to live comfortably with that,” she said. “To anyone thinking of volunteering in hospice care, I’d say: try it. It’s such a rewarding role, and you gain so much more from it than you would ever imagine.”

National volunteering charity Helpforce, which partners with NHS organisations across the UK, says there are around 300 different types of volunteer roles in the health service.

Roles include: hospital wayfinding, patient befriending, giving mealtime assistance, dementia support, helping with rehabilitation exercises, re-stocking linen cupboards, delivering pharmacy prescriptions to wards, and driving patients home after discharge.

People can choose to commit as little as a couple of hours a month or as much as five days per week.

Amerjit Chohan, Helpforce Chief Executive: “New Year is always a busy time for people stepping forward to become NHS volunteers. Many see the start of another year as an opportunity to do something good with their time, while others are keen to acquire fresh skills or meet new people.”

For more information on NHS volunteering visit www.helpforce.community