Demelza

Estates Department Volunteers

Role Summary:

We are seeking dedicated and enthusiastic Volunteers to join our very busy Estates Team, who are responsible for maintaining and operating all of the Demelza sites, keeping them clean, safe and well maintained. 

Our sites:

Sittingbourne, Kent

Eltham, SE London

St Leonards, East Sussex

30 shops throughout the South East

Distribution Centre in Aylesford, Kent

If you have previous maintenance experience and can spare a few hours a week to support our friendly team in our Estates Department, please apply or get in contact. Whatever your skills and experience, we will be able to put these to good use. This Volunteer position offers a unique chance to develop your skills while making a positive impact. Each day brings different challenges – from carpentry to plumbing, painting and decorating to changing locks. All levels of skill are appreciated, although some tasks such as electrical repairs will need further qualifications.

Whether you can lend a hand at one of our hospices or are able to help our Estates Trading Team, we would love to hear from you.

Duties could include:

• Helping with practical tasks
• General maintenance and repairs
• Painting and decorating
• Lifting and carrying

Experience:

• General site knowledge is useful, which could include building, plumbing, electrical, construction, mechanical, drainage.
• Previous experience in engineering, site maintenance or project management is advantageous.

What you gain from volunteering:

• A chance to meet new people, make new friends and dedicate yourself to a rewarding role
• The chance to develop new skills, take on new challenges and enjoy new experiences
• Training and support
• The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Demelza and support children with terminal conditions and their loved ones

Join Demelza’s team of Practical Support volunteers to decorate rooms for local families.

As a practical support volunteer, you will:

• Use your decorating skills to transform rooms so families can spend time in safe, beautiful spaces.

• Engage with family members and provide a supportive ear for them as an ambassador for Demelza.
• Feedback to the Practical Support team, ensuring any needs of the family are recorded.

Practical support tasks are always arranged to work around you, and there is no minimum or maximum amount of support required.

You do not need to have any professional decorating experience to be able to help, however we do ask that you are experienced and comfortable with basic decorating or DIY to help. We will take you preferences and skills into account to make sure you only undertake tasks you’re comfortable with.

All Practical Support volunteers have an initial interview with a member of the team, followed by a training session for volunteering with Demelza families. You will also receive a face to face induction, as well as ongoing support and supervision from the team.

All volunteers helping with Demelza families are also required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check before starting the role.

If you're ready to use your skills to make a difference, please apply now. If you would like more information and want to speak to a member of the Practical Support team, please call us on 01795 845299 or email practicalsupport@demelza.org.uk.

Gardening Volunteer

Our 8 acre site of gardens and grounds here at Demelza provides a peaceful sanctuary for our children and families, a place to relax in and a place to play in a beautiful and safe environment. We have different areas, such as our Garden of Tranquillity and our Sensory Garden. We use our gardens for memory making, we have quiet zones, an amazing adapted play area, we use the grounds for seasonal celebrations such as Easter Egg Hunts and Christmas Light Shows. We have on show some beautiful plants, flowers and trees and also grow fruit and vegetables, which are then used in the kitchen.

This could not be possible without a team of dedicated and wonderful volunteers. We welcome anyone here to volunteer that has a few hours a week to spare, is keen to be here and loves being outdoors and  being part of a friendly team. A genuine love for plants and gardening is helpful, as is knowledge of gardening, although it is not essential.

Your help could make such a big difference to provide the perfect place for our children and families to be together.

Duties can include:

• Perform regular landscape maintenance, including mowing, trimming, and weeding.
• Utilise hand tools and power tools effectively for various gardening tasks.
• Plant, grow, and care for flowers, shrubs, trees, and other vegetation.
• Assist with the growing of fruit and vegetables.
• Irrigate gardens appropriately to ensure optimal plant health.
• Maintain garden beds by mulching, fertilising, and pruning as necessary.
• Assist in the ideas, design and implementation of new garden layouts or features.
• Conduct groundskeeping duties to keep outdoor areas clean and tidy.
• Monitor plant health and identify any pests or diseases that may affect growth.
• Collaborate with other team members to achieve landscaping goals.

Requirements:

• Experience in gardening or landscape maintenance is helpful but not necessary. We are happy to have anyone here volunteering that is keen and interested.
• Familiarity with using hand tools and power tools safely and effectively would be helpful.
• Knowledge of plant care techniques is also helpful.
• Ability to be outdoors in various weather conditions.
• A passion for growing plants and/or vegetables and maintaining gardens is useful.
• Good physical stamina as the role could involve manual labour and lifting.

What you gain from volunteering

• A chance to meet new people and make new friends and dedicate yourself to a rewarding role
• The time to develop new skills, take on new challenges and enjoy new experiences
• Training and support
• The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Demelza and support children with serious or life-limiting conditions and their families

Eltham Hospice Garden Volunteer

Our garden provides an outdoor space for our children and families to play and relax together.

We are looking for a volunteer to assist with the maintenance and upkeep of the garden space.

We welcome anyone that has a spare few hours a week to come and help out, a love for gardening would be beneficial but not essential. 

Please apply online or contact us if you need any further information.

Requirements:

• Experience in gardening or maintenance is helpful but not necessary. We are happy to have anyone volunteering that is keen and interested.
• Familiarity with using hand tools and power tools safely and effectively would be helpful.
• Knowledge of plant care techniques is also helpful.
• Ability to be outdoors in various weather conditions.
• A passion for growing plants and maintaining gardens is useful.

What you gain from volunteering

• A chance to meet new people and make new friends and dedicate yourself to a rewarding role
• The time to develop new skills, take on new challenges and enjoy new experiences
• Training and support
• The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Demelza and support children with serious or life-limiting conditions and their families