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

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.

As a Practical Support Gardening Volunteer, you will:

• Visit families local to you that need help with general garden tasks such as mowing, weeding, pruning and planting, either on your own or as part of a small team of volunteers.
• Engage with family members and provide a supportive ear for them as an ambassador for Demelza.
• Feedback to the Practical Support team on your visits, ensuring any needs of the family are recorded.

Flexible Commitment: We respect your schedule. Enjoy flexible volunteer hours that fit your availability, with no minimum or maximum amount of volunteering time.

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.

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 meaningful impact, please apply now, or contact us at practicalsupport@demelza.org.uk or call 01795 845299 for more information.

If you enjoy cleaning, organising and helping others, we would love you to join our team of dedicated Practical Support volunteers to help local families with household tasks such as cleaning, tidying and laundry, helping them keep on top of day-to-day pressures, allowing families to focus on what matters most - spending quality time together.

As a Practical Support Volunteer, you will:

• Undertake light housekeeping tasks when they need an extra helping hand, such as cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, and laundry.
• Help families maintain a safe and clean environment at home, helping them to focus on what matters most - spending quality time together.
• Engage with family members and provide a supportive ear for them as an ambassador for Demelza.
• Feedback to the Practical Support team on your visits, ensuring any needs of the family are recorded.

Tasks are arranged to fit around your availability and there is no maximum or minimum - whether it's a few hours a week or a monthly commitment.

All Practical Support volunteers will 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.

Become an essential part of our dedicated team of volunteers and help us create a clean and comforting atmosphere for children and their families in their own homes. Contact us at practicalsupport@demelza.org.uk or call 01795 845299 for more information.

Fundraising and Events Volunteer

How you can get involved

Join in with the action by lending a helping hand at our fantastic fundraising events. Becoming a fundraising volunteer is a great way to have fun and meet new people whilst raising vital funds and awareness of Demelza in your local community.

From helping with bucket collections to manning stalls, setting up marquees, putting up banners, serving refreshments to supporting participants at fundraising events; donating your time will be an invaluable contribution to our cause.

Our events are held throughout the year. Whether you can help with one or 2 events a year, or want to make a more regular commitment, we appreciate the help.

If you are looking for a hands-on role, supporting Demelza at one of our events is a brilliant way to get involved whilst having fun at the same time!

What will you gain from volunteering

• A chance to meet new people, make new friends and dedicate yourself to a rewarding role
• 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

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

VOLUNTEER ROLE: Housekeeping Volunteer

REPORTS TO: Housekeeping Manager

LOCATION: Demelza Kent or South East London

HOURS/DAYS:  Wednesday and Friday mornings are particularly required

PURPOSE OF ROLE:

To support the housekeeping team in maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for our children and families, visitors, staff and volunteers.

Volunteers play a vital role in enhancing the comfort and wellbeing of everyone  in the facility.

ROLE/DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with light cleaning duties such as wiping surfaces, tidying communal areas, and restocking supplies.
• Help with laundry tasks (folding, sorting, delivering clean linen).
• Support the team in preparing rooms for new arrivals.
• Ensure high standards of hygiene are maintained.
• Report any maintenance or cleanliness issues to staff.
• Engage with children and visitors in a friendly and respectful manner.

SKILLS & QUALITIES:

• Reliable and punctual.
• Friendly and approachable.
• Able to follow instructions and work as part of a team.
• Respectful of confidentiality and sensitive environments.
• Physically able to carry out light cleaning tasks.
• A friendly, approachable, and compassionate nature
• Respectful of confidentiality and sensitive to the needs of children and families in a hospice setting

TIME COMMITMENT:

• Ideally, a regular weekly or fortnightly shift of 3-4 hours.
• Flexible scheduling available to suit volunteer availability.
• Minimum commitment of 3 months preferred.

TRAINING AND SUPPORT:

You will be given a Volunteer Handbook, which covers mandatory training such as Moving & Handling, Fire Training, Data Protection and Safeguarding.  In addition, you will complete an induction with your line manager. Specific, specialist training will be provided where appropriate/relevant to the area you will be assigned to. Ongoing support is available to volunteers through their line manager and the Voluntary Services team. All volunteers must maintain their mandatory training to continue in their role.

UNIFORM/DRESS CODE REQUIREMENTS:

• A Demelza polo shirt will be provided
• Closed-toe, non-slip footwear
• Any necessary protective clothing (e.g. aprons) will be provided
• ID badge is provided and must be worn at all times

OUR VALUES & BEHAVIOURS:

Volunteers are expected to demonstrate and actively align to our organisational values and behaviours. The full values and behaviours documents can be found on the Demelza intranet.

SAFEGUARDING AND FREDIE:

Demelza is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Demelza also values FREDIE principles (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some volunteering roles will require an enhanced DBS check - this does not mean that you cannot volunteer for us if you have a previous conviction. Demelza conforms to all aspects of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

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

• Hold a relevant complementary therapy qualification, including but not limited to: Infant massage, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Reiki, Aromatherapy, to a minimum of diploma level 3
• Have a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience
• Have evidence of registration or membership to a relevant professional body
• Have their own insurance to practice.

Supporter Services Department

Telephone Thanking Administrator

Based in our offices at our Kent Hospice in Bobbing, Sittingbourne, we are looking for assistance in our friendly Supporter Services Department. The main role is to telephone our Demelza supporters who have recently donated, thanking them for their support and building a relationship with them.

Requirements for the role:

• Confident and professional telephone manner, making outbound calls to Supporters
• Ability to record call conversations and feedback to the Supporter Services Manager
• Knowledge of MS Office
• Experience in using databases is an advantage

Hours and days are flexible, we appreciate any time that is able to be given. School hours are acceptable. Ideally we would suggest 9.30 am - 2.30 pm once or twice a week, however this is flexible.

Full training is given on the process around making and logging the calls, using Excel, as well as guidance on how to conduct the calls, and information on current news and activities at Demelza.

If you are a cheerful, positive person and are able to offer some time, we would be grateful. Please apply online to start with or contact us if you would like further information about volunteering.

What will you gain from volunteering

• A chance to meet new people, make new friends and dedicate yourself to a rewarding role
• Developing new skills, taking on new challenges and enjoying new experiences
• Feel part of a special team, with the knowledge that you are making a difference

• The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Demelza and learn about our services we provide to support our extraordinary children with complex medical conditions and their loved ones