Volunteering

Our volunteers play an important role, helping our staff make the hospital experience better for patients. Voluntary support is committed to recruiting individuals from a spectrum of the community. They match individual skills/experience to appropriate placements, with training and support to develop skills.

If you are over 17 years old, live locally and want more information about these roles, please look at our available roles here. There is a minimum commitment required  of four hours per week for six months.

If you have further questions after following the above steps please contact our Voluntary Services Team on thh-tr.voluntaryservices@nhs.net.

Who can apply to volunteer?
We warmly welcome applications from members of our local community who are aged 17 or over and live locally.
 
What commitment is required?
To help us provide a consistent and supportive experience, we ask volunteers to commit to at least one four-hour shift each week for a minimum of six months.
 
Are travel expenses reimbursed and which areas are considered local?
Yes. We reimburse volunteer public transport and/or petrol expenses, and therefore welcome applications from the immediate local areas for each site.
 
For Hillingdon Hospital, this includes Uxbridge, Cowley, Ickenham, West Drayton, Hayes, Ruislip and Slough.
 
For Mount Vernon Hospital, this includes Northwood, Rickmansworth, Moor Park, Eastbury and Carpenters Park, Northwood Hills, South Ruislip, Watford, Pinner, Croxley Green, Harrow and Denham.
 
Where can I find more information?
We would be delighted to hear from you. Please view the available opportunities to find out more about our current volunteer roles.

Third-party volunteering

Radio Hillingdon

Radio Hillingdon are Looking for ward visitors to visit patients at their bedside and inform them that they can listen to Radio Hillingdon if you are interested, please go to their website radiohillingdon.com.

Radio Mount Vernon

Radio Mount Vernon provides an entertainment and information service for the benefit of the patients, staff and visitors of Mount Vernon Hospital - our listeners.

There are many ways to help out and not just the obvious presenting roles. Help out in the record library, with engineering or fundraising. All presenters visit the wards and chat to patients, as well as presenting. Minimum age is 17.

For more information: Radio Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Hospital Comforts Fund

If you are interested in volunteering for the Comforts Fund, please visit any of the Comforts Fund shops (listed below) for an informal chat, call the team on 01923 844629 or email Natasha Thakkar, charity secretary, on natasha.thakkar@nhs.net 

Volunteers run the:

  • Bookshop

  • Sweet Shop / Newsagent

  • The Look-In Charity Shop

The Mount Vernon Hospital Comforts Fund is a registered charity that has supported patients and staff on the Mount Vernon Hospital site for over 90 years. Established in 1935, the charity is run largely by volunteers and exists to raise funds that improve comfort, care and wellbeing for those who use and work at the hospital.

Work Experience - opportunities and guidance

The following updates and opportunities relate to work experience at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Hillingdon Hospital in Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon UB8 3NN, and Mount Vernon Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood HA6 2RN.

Work experience placements

Work Experience Placements

To apply for a work experience place at our Trust, you will need to have a confirmed sponsor who must be a member of our staff.

Who can apply?

  • Applicants aged 15-16: eligible for non‑clinical work experience
  • Applicants aged 16-19: eligible for clinical and non‑clinical work experience
  • Applicants aged 19+: Considered on a case‑by‑case basis for  work shadowing
    • Requires a Basic Disclosure (DBS) check, coordinated with the sponsor department.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Live locally, or
  • Attend school/college in the surrounding boroughs of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

How to Apply for a Work Experience Placement

Staff initiating a sponsored placement will follow the steps below.

Step 1 . Staff member submits a request and completes the Work Experience Referral Form.

Let your sponsor know that the form can be downloaded from the Trust intranet. The form must be submitted by the sponsoring staff member who will host the student.

Step 2. Work Experience Team sends application pack to student

Once a referral is received, the Work Experience Team will:

  • Contact the student directly
  • Issue the Trust's full application form and begin pre‑placement checks.

Step 3.  Sponsor completes local induction and risk assessment

The sponsor/hosting department will complete the local induction checklist.

The sponsor is responsible for filling out the relevant risk assessment form. It must be completed before the placement can be confirmed.

Step 4.  Work Experience Team issues confirmation

When all checks and documentation are complete, the Work Experience Team will:

  • Issue the placement agreement
  • Arrange an ID badge for the student
  • Notify the sponsor that the placement is cleared to proceed.

Step 5. During the placement, sponsors are responsible for:

  • Daily supervision
  • Ensuring the student remains within approved areas and duties
  • Providing a safe and supportive environment.

Step 6.  After the placement, the Work Experience team will:

  • Collect the student's ID badge
  • Send an evaluation form to the student
  • Record completion and feedback to help inform future improvements