Record numbers of young people to volunteer in our hospitals this summer
Record numbers of young people to volunteer in our hospitals this summer
03 July 2023
Volunteers aged 16 to 21 will help improve the patient experience and provide extra support for hospital staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
During July and August, 172 young people are due to take part in our programme at Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary’s hospitals.
The new volunteers – who all live within a few miles of our hospitals - will lend a hand on wards across our sites, offering friendly companionship to patients at the bedside, delivering meals at lunch and dinner time, and carrying out other useful tasks that help staff provide the best possible care.
"Young people make a real impact in our hospitals, helping hard-working NHS staff go the extra mile."
Jarina Choudhury, Deputy Head of Volunteering
“At a time when great efforts are being made across the country to get more young people involved in volunteering, we’re so pleased to see this unprecedented interest in our programme for 16 to 21-year-olds,” said Jarina Choudhury, Deputy Head of Volunteering at Imperial Health Charity.
“Young people can – and do – make a real impact in our hospitals, providing that extra energy, enthusiasm and support that helps hard-working staff go the extra mile to provide a truly outstanding experience of care for our patients.”
As well as providing extra support at our hospitals, the programme offers young people the opportunity to learn new skills and gain valuable experience. Many of those taking part are interested in a future career in healthcare while others say they want to support their local hospital.
“Volunteering has been an incredible experience for me,” said Becky*, one of the young people who took part in our autumn term programme recently.
“It’s taught me empathy and kindness, and it’s allowed me to speak and work with amazing people. Every shift I learn something new and I always leave the hospital feeling positive about the difference I’ve made.”
Since launching in 2018 with support from the Pears Foundation, our Youth Volunteering Programme has given hundreds of 16 to 21-year-olds the unique opportunity to volunteer in a hospital environment.
With more young people taking part than ever before, this summer will be the largest edition of our Youth Volunteering Programme to date.
Feeling inspired? Applications are now open for our autumn term Youth Volunteering Programme, taking place between September 2023 and March 2024. Find out more and apply here.
