Tŷ Hafan - the Hospice for Children in Wales


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Family Support Volunteers

Are you looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in the lives of children and families facing life-shortening conditions? If so, you might be interested in one of our Family Support Volunteering roles!

Volunteering in one of our Family Support Volunteer roles is a rewarding and flexible way to provide practical and/or emotional support to families in their own environment.

You will be matched with a family based on your skills, availability and location and the family's needs. You will receive comprehensive training as well as ongoing supervision from our experienced Community Team. 

As a Family Support Volunteer and dependent on the role you are interested in doing, you may be helping families with social support such as befriending and being a listening ear or meeting a parent out for lunch/coffee, or you may support with more practical tasks such as household chores, shopping, gardening, maintenance and reading to children. You will also have the opportunity to join our network of volunteers and attend Tŷ Hafan social activities throughout the year. 

Volunteering to support our families is a great way to use your existing skills, learn new ones, meet new people and make a positive impact on your community.

If you are interested in volunteering in one of our Family Support Volunteer roles, please take a look below to find out what's available and submit an application form.

If you have any questions, you can contact our Family Support Volunteer Manager at debbie.allison@tyhafan.org or call 029 2053 2254.

Mission Statement

When a child’s life will be short, no family should have to live it on their own. Our ambition is to ensure that all families have the care and support they need, in life, death and beyond.

Family Support Volunteer Role

Volunteer Gardener

As a Gardening Volunteer in family homes, you can help make a real impact on the lives of families with children facing complex health challenges and a shortened life.

Having access to a secure garden or outdoor area can be crucial for providing opportunities to play and relax, which can be invaluable for the mental well-being of these families.

Our Gardening Volunteer role supports numerous Tŷ Hafan families who find it difficult to clear and maintain their gardens or outdoor spaces, alongside providing around the clock care for their child or young person.

Often, once the space has been cleared, the task becomes more manageable and less daunting, giving families the breathing space they need to maintain the area by themselves.


Considerations:

Age requirement: 21+

Location: Across South & West Wales (in your local area)

Time commitment: Flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate your personal schedule. The support plans designed for referred families are typically structured to span a period of six weeks.

Background checks: Enhanced DBS check, 2 references and induction/training course required before starting.

Due to the nature of the role, we are looking for volunteers with some skills, experience and knowledge of gardening, either as a profession or as a hobby.


Activities include:

•Mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and pruning shrubs/trees;

•Disposal of garden waste;

•Planting bulbs and tidying up flower beds;

•General tidy up of outdoor spaces;

•Other ad-hoc gardening tasks on a seasonal basis.


At Tŷ Hafan our people values are working together, demonstrating compassion, providing excellent service and taking ownership.

We expect all colleagues and volunteers to behave with high levels of integrity and to represent our values as a core part of their role. 


 Training you will receive:

You will receive a comprehensive introduction to Tŷ Hafan and your role, to include an in-person Induction and Training Programme as well as additional e-learning.

You will be a part of a friendly and supportive team who will assist you with any queries or concerns through regular and ongoing meetings.

Other role and organisation specific training is available including both supplementary and mandatory training.

All volunteers must maintain their mandatory training to continue in their role.


The benefits of becoming a Gardening Volunteer in Family Homes:

•Make a positive difference in the lives of children with life-shortening conditions and their families, by creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces for them to enjoy;

•Attend Volunteer Celebration Events throughout the year;

•Meet new people and join a friendly community of volunteers, passionate about helping others;

•Develop your existing gardening skills and knowledge;

•Expenses will be provided following discussion about the role.


Ready to apply?

Click here to fill in an application form on your laptop/pc

Click here to complete an application form on your mobile phone/tablet

This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.
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Practical Family Support Volunteer

Joining this role means you'll be at the heart of providing essential support to families facing the unimaginable; caring for their child who's life will be short.

Many families in Wales are unfortunately facing this challenge alone, without support from others.

As a Practical Family Support Volunteer for Tŷ Hafan, you will assist families in need with various light tasks such as cleaning, tidying up and laundry.

Your contribution will go beyond housekeeping; it's about taking some of the pressure off and giving families the breathing space they need to spend more precious time together.

This role offers the satisfaction of knowing you are making a positive impact on families with a child with a life-shortening condition, by helping them create a tidy, clean and safe home environment that reduces their daily stress and worries.

Most importantly, you will be helping us to ensure that no family faces this challenge, alone.


Considerations:

Age requirement: 21+

Location: Across South & West Wales (in your local area)

Time commitment: Flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate your personal schedule. The support plans designed for referred families are typically structured to span a period of six weeks.

Background checks: Enhanced DBS check, 2 references and induction/training course required before starting.

Due to the nature of the role, we are looking for volunteers with some skills, experience and knowledge of gardening, either as a profession or as a hobby.


Activities include:

Activities include helping families with light housekeeping tasks such as; cleaning, dusting, vacuuming and laundry, giving them the space they need to be there for their child who needs them.

We are looking for volunteers who:

•Can empathise with the families you are helping and show them kindness and respect;

•Are reliable and flexible and committed to volunteering on a longer term basis;

•Will follow our health and safety guidelines, policies and procedures and report any issues or concerns to the Family Support Volunteer Manager;

•Are respectful of the privacy, preferences and needs of the families you are supporting;

•Are polite and friendly;

•Can adapt to different situations and challenges;

•Enjoy making a difference in the lives of others


At Tŷ Hafan our people values are working together, demonstrating compassion, providing excellent service and taking ownership.

We expect all colleagues and volunteers to behave with high levels of integrity and to represent our values as a core part of their role. 


Training you will receive:

You will receive a comprehensive introduction to Tŷ Hafan and your role, to include an in-person Induction and Training Programme as well as additional e-learning.

You will be a part of a friendly and supportive team who will assist you with any queries or concerns through regular and ongoing meetings.

Other role and organisation specific training is available including both supplementary and mandatory training.

All volunteers must maintain their mandatory training to continue in their role.


The benefits of becoming a Practical Family Support Volunteer in Family Homes:

•Make a positive difference in the lives of children with life-shortening conditions and their families, by helping them to maintain clean spaces for them to enjoy;

•Attend Volunteer Celebration Events throughout the year;

•Meet new people and join a friendly community of volunteers, passionate about helping others;

•Expenses will be provided following discussion about the role.


Ready to apply?

Click here to fill in an application form on your laptop/pc

Click here to complete an application form on your mobile phone/tablet

This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.


 

  

Fill in an application

Head Office & Community

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Tŷ Hafan and taking the first steps in helping us to make a short life, a full life.

Our current Volunteer roles are outlined below. There is a huge range of ways you can volunteer for Tŷ Hafan, and it really doesn’t matter how much time you give. Every hour is precious and gratefully received.

Once you have found a role you like the sound of, you can apply by clicking the "fill in an application" button within the role description.

If you’d rather speak to someone from our Volunteering Team before completing the form, you can call 02920 532 254 for an informal chat or send us an email volunteering@tyhafan.org


Overseas Applications

Please note, while we at Tŷ Hafan pride ourselves on being inclusive of all individuals who wish to volunteer, we are not currently a sponsor license holder so we are not able to support any overseas VISA applications.


Useful Links

Ty Hafan's Volunteer Handbook

Volunteering FAQs - Ty Hafan

 

Head Office/Community Roles

Ad-Hoc Events

Ty Hafan Led Events:

If you are interested in helping out at any of these ad-hoc events, please submit your interest by emailing jodana.weekley@tyhafan.org. 

Date

Time

Event

Location

Volunteer Roles

Additional Information

20th February

5:30pm – 11:30pm

Ty Hafan Quiz

Depot, Cardiff

Welcome Hosts

Team hosts – allocated 5 tables to support and collect scores

Due to the autumn internationals, the quiz has been moved from November to February.

Parking available on site

Street food and bar open on site

9th March 2025

4:30pm – 8:30pm

Firewalk

Cardiff City Stadium

Welcome Hosts

Registration

Free parking on site
Refreshments available

           
           
           

 

Community Champion

Make a real difference to children in Wales with a life-shortening condition by becoming a Community Champion today!

Our Community Champions are an extension of our Fundraising team and act as representatives of Tŷ Hafan within their local community.

They are passionate about their cause and eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

Supported by your local Regional Fundraiser, you will help us with various fundraising activities depending on your skills and confidence.

You will receive a full induction and ongoing training, as well as opportunities to meet other volunteers and have fun throughout the year.

We can't wait to welcome you!

Click here to view a full role description


Considerations:

Age requirement: 18+

Time commitment: Varied based on what you are able to do, but ideally, we would be looking for you to support for at least one day a month

Location: Across your local area


Activities include:

• Collecting and servicing donation boxes in your area and finding new places to place them;

• Attending cheque presentations and giving talks about our work to local groups or schools;

• Helping out at bucket collections and other fundraising events throughout the year;

• Spreading the word about Tŷ Hafan's campaigns and events to your friends, family and contacts; 

• Sharing your passion for what we do with your community.

Desirable skills:
• Able to speak Welsh (not essential for all volunteers, but we welcome Welsh speakers);
• Confident and comfortable speaking in public;
• Familiar with using social media.


Ready to apply?

Click here to fill in an application form on your laptop/pc
Click here to complete an application form on your mobile phone/tablet


This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not a legally binding one or an employment contract.


Providing care and support is something we are only able to do because of the kindness and commitment of our wonderful staff, supporters and volunteers.

Events Volunteer

Do you love meeting new people and making a difference in your community? Are you looking for a fun and rewarding way to spend your time or use your skills and talents? If so, you might be the perfect person for our Events Volunteer Role!

As a charity, Tŷ Hafan organizes many fundraising events throughout the year and we are also represented at wider fundraising events across our communities.

These events include our very own Family Fun Day, sporting events, community bucket collections in exciting venues, and much more.

These events attract thousands of people who want to support our cause, but we also need people who can help us behind the scenes to make them happen!

That's where you come in..

By volunteering at an event, whether as a one-off or more regularly, you'll help us raise essential funds for children with life-shortening conditions and their families. You'll be making a huge difference.

Click here to view a full role description


Considerations:

Age Limit: 16+ (Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult)

Time Commitment: One off, long term, flexible, hours vary with each event


Activities include:

•  Event set up

•  Event registration

•  Bag drop/stall cover

•  Encourage, cheer on and motivate event participants

Marshalling

•  Handing out medals

•  Bucket collections

•  Support staff to deliver a safe event


Ready to apply?

Click here to fill in an application form on your laptop/pc
Click here to complete an application form on your mobile phone/tablet


This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.


Providing care and support is something we are only able to do because of the kindness and commitment of our wonderful staff, supporters and volunteers.

Fill in an application

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