Volunteering

Volunteering at the Trust

Volunteering at the Trust is a great way to support your local hospital and we know our volunteers make a significant difference to both our patients and staff every day.

We welcome volunteers at our hospital sites in York, Scarborough, Bridlington, and Selby, as well as our smaller community sites.

If you interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete our volunteer expression of interest form. We expect the next round of volunteer recruitment to begin in Spring 2026.

Chaplaincy volunteering roles

Applications for chaplaincy volunteers are welcomed from all faiths and belief groups.

A chaplaincy volunteer provides a regular frontline chaplaincy presence on an assigned ward or directed to visit specific individuals by the Chaplain. We ask that chaplaincy ward volunteers are:

rooted in a personal faith or conviction that sustains their personal integrity and can articulate their faith or belief whilst respecting other’s views.
not compelled by a personal doctrine of faith that seeks to evangelise or proselytize
a member in good standing within their faith or belief group.

You can find out more about the role and download the chaplaincy volunteer document on line.

Please complete our chaplaincy volunteer form if you're interested in a chaplaincy volunteer role.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the volunteer team via yhs-tr.ysthvolunteer@nhs.net or call 01904 724 229.

Frequently asked questions

After submitting an application, how long does it take to become a Trust volunteer?
It takes 8-12 weeks, including recruitment checks, an information session, and an induction session.

Do you offer work experience?
Our volunteering roles are designed to improve the patient experience, not for work experience purposes. We do sometimes offer work experience placements for those under 18. Find more details on work experience placements here.

Volunteering requirements

To apply and become a volunteer, we ask that people:

Commit to a minimum of six months, initially
Make a weekly commitment of one four-hour shift
Must be aged 16 and above. Please note, volunteers under 18 require parental consent. Some roles are only appropriate for volunteers aged 18+

To find out more about Volunteering with the NHS please visit NHS England's volunteering webpage.

Support Scarborough Hospital's cafe

The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) is looking for more volunteers to support the cafe at Scarborough Hospital.

To find out more and apply for the role, visit the RVS website.

Friends of York Hospitals

Friends of York Hospitals is a charity founded in 1953 to support the care and rehabilitation of patients from York Hospital, Nelson's Court, and White Cross Court.

The charity works in partnership with the Trust through volunteering and supports the work of York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity by fundraising for specialist equipment and projects to increase the facilities and care for patients and their families.

The charity could not carry out its work without the generosity of local people giving their time. If you are interested in learning more about Friends of York Hospitals and its volunteering and membership opportunities, please visit the FOYH website.

Page last updated: 14 October 2025