Douglas Macmillan Hospice


Volunteering at Dougie Mac

Our volunteers are absolutely vital to the work of Dougie Mac Hospice; without them we simply couldn’t continue to provide or fund our essential services.

The enthusiasm and commitment from our volunteers helps us to help others in our community.

Dougie Mac has over 700 dedicated volunteers who give their time in every department across the hospice including retail, finance, fundraising, gardening, catering and care services.

From making delicious cups of tea and counting money to offering a listening ear and sorting charity shop donations; we couldn’t do what we do without them.

It doesn’t matter how much time you have to give, we’ll give you the time to do something great!

To apply to be one of our Dougie Mac volunteers please complete the application form, we will then be in touch on the contact details you give us.

We will then take you through the application process and provide you with the training you need to get the most out of your volunteering journey with us. We look forward to welcoming you to the Dougie Mac family.

Unfortunately at this time we are unable to offer work experience.

I would like to volunteer

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Volunteering Roles with Dougie Mac

Burslem Megastore Volunteer

Our MEGA store on Federation Road in Burslem is a busy and big store and would really suit someone who likes to be on the go all of the time. If you want to increase your step count this is definitely the place for you! Beverley one of our volunteers regularly walks 5 miles during a volunteering shift! 

For something a little different to your average charity shop please get in touch!

Shop Assistant

Love a charity shop? Who doesn't!? We have over 20 charity shops across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. With thanks to our local community, Dougie Mac retail contributes over £4 million of income each year to sustain the hospice’s specialist care service.

If are looking to build on your retail experience or are looking to start in retail, we want to hear from you. You would be part of a dynamic team and who will provide you with full training to help you learn the different roles within the store. Our volunteers are an integral part of our retail team and with their help, we raise funds to ensure the care we provide to local families can continue.

Would you like to be part of our retail team? There are various roles available from sorting donations, tagging clothes, stock rotation and serving on the till all whilst maximising Gift Aid donations*

  • We currently have vacancies in the following shops:
    • eBay
    • Barlaston
    • Bentilee
    • Cheadle
    • Chesterton
    • Hanford
    • Leek
    • Longton
    • Mini Mac, Kidsgrove
    • Meir
    • Newcastle
    • Silverdale
    • Westlands

eBay Shop - relocated to Newstead Industrial Estate; variety of roles including: sorting clothes, packing items for posting, photographing items to be listed, housekeeping

Service Centre - relocating to Newstead Industrial Estate. A variety of roles including: scanning media and books, sorting Bric-a-Brac and clothes

*Gift Aid enables the hospice to make an extra 25% on the money we receive from donated goods, at no extra cost! Full training is given to all our shop volunteers.

Collection Box Volunteer

A great opportunity to get out and about!

Collection boxes in shops and business premises raise thousands of pounds for the hospice. One of the most rewarding things about being a Collection Box Volunteer is feeling the weight of the boxes filled up with spare change by our amazing supporters.

So, If you have:

  • access to your own transport
  • some spare time 
  • like chatting to people
  • want that lovely feeling of bringing money into the hospice

Then this is for you! 

We have various locations (within the North Staffordshire area) with boxes to exchange & return to the hospice. This can be ad-hoc or a regular round and is ideal if you like to manage your own time. A "round" is usually in a designated area such as a high street but this can vary depending of locations.

We particularly need volunteers in:

  • Penkhull
  • Trentvale
  • Oakhill

We can't wait for you to start!

Events Volunteer

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Our Event Volunteers play a vital part in bringing to life Dougie Mac fundraising events.

Volunteering at an event is an exciting and rewarding experience, with a range of roles available, there is something to suit everyone. Whether, you are looking to meet new people, develop new skills, gain some events experience, or are passionate about Dougie Mac then we have a role for you.

The Events Team will provide information on what support is needed ahead of each event. Typical tasks might include:

•             Welcoming participants and spectators to event sites and locations

•             Supporting the event manager with set-up and pack down of the event

•             Providing information to participants and spectators

•             Checking in registration of participants

•             Supporting participants around the event, such as marshalling, cheering, or handing out refreshments.

•             Celebrating participants who cross the finish line and giving out medals and water

Events 2023

Ball - 24th March 

5K Run Walk -  23rd April 

Golf Day - 19th May 

Potters 'Arf - 11th June

Midnight to Sunrise Walk - 23rd June

Bike Ride - 17th September

Facilities

Love the outdoors or fancy something different every day? One of these roles is waiting for you!

  • Drivers - Transporting documents, linen and bloods to UHNM
  • Housekeeping - on both sites, assisting with general cleaning duties
  • Catering - assisting in the kitchen with duties to support the team to operate efficiently

Office & Admin

Excellent on Excel? A Wizz on Word? Dazzling at Databases?

Why not use your skills to support the huge administration tasks that go on behind the scenes at the hospice? Our office and admin roles are generally Monday to Friday in office hours and include: Reception, Fundraising, Finance, Lottery, Learning and Development, HR, and Voluntary Services.

We have various office and admin roles throughout the hospice - why not apply and tell us about your experience and we will talk you through the roles we have available. 

Current roles

  • Reception volunteers needed weekday evenings 6pm-8pm at the adult hospice 
  • Learning and Development Admin Volunteer
  • Fundraising Collection and Admin Volunteer
  • Marketing & Comms Support Data base Volunteer
  • Individual Giving and Trust Admin Role
  • Wellbeing Centre Reception roles Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 09:30 and 16:30 

 

 

 

Corporate Volunteering

Corporate Volunteering Application Form

Are you looking to spend a day volunteering with us with your work team? Why not spend the day with us?

You could be involved with the following activities:

  • Gardening at our adult unit in Blurton and Children’s and Young adults in Trentham
  • Helping out in our shops
  • Fundraising Events; both on the day and prep
  • Leaflet distribution
  • Christmas TreeCycle

 

Children Services (over 18s only)

We currently have vacancies for the following roles:

Sibling Support

  • Engage siblings in play, recreation, sports and other areas of interest such as computer games
  • Supervise free play
  • Help keep play areas clean, tidy and organised
  • Choose activities which are child-led where possible
  • Utilise the wide range of resources available in-house
  • Assist at mealtimes with drinks and meals

Pamper Sessions

  • Need to be able to show qualifications
  • Therapists who are able to offer treatments to parents/carers of the children under Dougie Mac’s care and also to the young adults
  • This wouldn’t need to be a regular commitment as a rota of possible contacts would be organised by Dougie Mac
  • It is preferred the therapist comes into Dougie Mac – treatment rooms available in both children’s and young adult’s buildings
  • Dougie Mac can purchase products for the treatments with prior agreement or volunteer could be reimbursed for products (as per our expenses policy).

Saturday Club

  • Researching suitable activities for the group
  • Planning sessions with other volunteers
  • Identifying and requesting materials needed prior to sessions
  • Organising of materials, equipment and rooms prior to sessions
  • Welcoming children, young people and families
  • Engaging with children and young people during the sessions
  • Cleaning up and storing of materials and equipment after sessions
  • Completing necessary paperwork such as attendance, planning and review sheets, accident and incident forms

Summer Play

  • Enjoy interacting with children
  • Have the ability to follow instructions
  • Good relationship building skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Flexible and creative
  • Ability to work on your own initiative
  • A good sense of humour and fun is essential

You could be supporting at one of our regular sessions with children who are staying or visiting the Children's Hospice whilst parents and careers have a well deserved rest. We also have regular clubs for siblings so they get the focused attention they need. 

Interested? Please complete the application and tell us all about yourself and why you would like to volunteer in our Children Services.

Wellbeing - Community Support and Befriending

Can you support a carer or patient and really make a difference? This is a varied role directly helping families to take make life just a little bit easier:

  • Wellbeing Support Volunteer - you could support in one of our Wellbeing groups or perhaps volunteer on the Wellbeing Reception
  • Buddy - visiting patients' homes to support them and their family*
  • Transport - helping patients to make essential trips to medical appointments. You may also be asked to help transport equipment, such as wheelchairs (own transport essential).
  • Telephone befriender - a listening ear on a regular basis for companionship.

You can be involved in all areas or just one, extensive training and support given.

*individual risk assessment will be carried out

Young Adult Services (over 18s only)

We currently have vacancies for the following Young Adult Services volunteers. 

Pamper Sessions

  • Need to be able to show qualifications
  • Therapists who are able to offer treatments to the young adults
  • This wouldn’t need to be a regular commitment as a rota of possible contacts would be organised by Dougie Mac
  • It is preferred the therapist comes into Dougie Mac – treatment rooms available in both children’s and young adult’s buildings
  • Dougie Mac can purchase products for the treatments with prior agreement or volunteer could be reimbursed for products (as per our expenses policy).

Interested? Please complete the application and tell us all about yourself and why you want to volunteer in our Young Adults Services

Our Values and Mission

Our Vision & Values

 

Our vision…to be admired as a centre of excellence for palliative and end of life care.

Our Mission is…to respond to the increasing needs of those in our care across our heartland by growing as a sustainable organisation delivering outstanding value for money for all our funding sources and always remaining true to our core values.

 

Our Hospice

Every year, Dougie Mac provides all hospice services free of charge to over 3,500 local people with life-limiting illnesses in Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire and the surrounding villages; also offering supportive care for their families and carers.

Following the amalgamation in March 2021 of children’s hospice The Donna Louise Trust into Dougie Mac, our care now takes place across two sites in Blurton and Trentham as well as out in the local community.