Demelza

South East London – Catering Volunteer

Join our warm and welcoming Catering team at Demelza’s Eltham hospice and help us bring comfort and joy to children and families through nourishing meals and friendly support.

When we need you:

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (10.30am-1.00pm) – flexibility with timings and duration

What you’ll do:

• Washing up
• Support the catering team with food preparation
• Support family dining experiences
• Help with kitchen clean-up and organisation

No experience needed – full training provided! Your enthusiasm and willingness to help are what matter most.

What you’ll gain:

• New friendships and a sense of community
• Valuable skills and rewarding experiences
• The chance to make a real impact for children with serious or life-limiting conditions

Why volunteer with Demelza?

Demelza provides specialist care 24/7, 365 days a year, children and families across Kent, South East London, and East Sussex. Our volunteers are the heart of our work - over 1,000 people already give their time, energy, and compassion to help us deliver exceptional care.

Join us and be part of something truly special.

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

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

Housekeeping Volunteers

Demelza Hospice at Eltham, London

We are looking for additional volunteers to join our friendly housekeeping team at our hospice in Eltham, SE London. The housekeeping department are responsible for keeping the hospice clean, tidy, bright and welcoming for the children and families in our care.

We particularly need volunteers on a Saturday and a Wednesday.

We require additional support and help and any time you can give is appreciated so much. Our busiest times are 9am to midday, and we are open 7 days a week. If you can spare a few hours a week to be part of this very important team, we would love to hear from you.

Tasks include:

General tidying and cleaning: dusting and vacuuming, ironing, cleaning the lounge areas, bedrooms and bathrooms.

What you will gain from volunteering:

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