Make a real difference – volunteer with us
Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back or gain experience? At our Trust, volunteers play a vital role in supporting people on their journey to recovery and assisting staff accross our sites. Whether it’s on a ward, in a community setting, or within one of our many specialist teams and services, there are a variety of ways you can get involved.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life and bring compassion, energy, skills and a genuine desire to help others. Many have personal experience of using our services or supporting someone who has, offering unique insight and empathy to those currently in need. For some of our volunteers they are looking to gain experience or share their skills with others.
You could be helping someone rediscover a hobby, offering a listening ear, or offering life skills to service users and staff. For some of our service users, social connections can feel out of reach—your presence could be the bridge that helps them reconnect.
No matter your background or experience, if you care about people and want to make a difference, there’s a place for you here.
About the Volunteer Service
We’re the Voluntary Services Team, and we’re here to support you every step of the way on your volunteering journey with the Trust.
Our team looks after everything from recruitment and DBS checks to training and ongoing support. That means once you’re ready to start, you’ll have everything in place to make a real difference, bringing your energy, compassion, and lived experience to the people who need it most.
We’re a small but experienced team of three, with over 80 years of combined NHS knowledge. We also work closely with staff across the Trust to help them make the most of volunteer support.
Whether you’re thinking about volunteering or ready to apply to be a volunteer, we’re here to help.
What do our volunteers do
The different roles include:
- activity volunteers, for example someone who runs craft based activities or sports/games
- administrators, who help our staff with tasks like answering phones and filing. Perfect for someone who is looking to gain skills and experience.
- befrienders, who socialise within the community but also members of staff too
- co-facilitators and facilitators working directly with the Recovery College
- patient survey takers, who promote patient and public involvement at the Trust
- Pets as Therapy Dogs
- Peer Support Workers, who use their lived experience to support and teach others
- Chaplaincy / faith volunteers, who offer multi-faith spiritual guidance
- University student sports volunteers in Forensic Units at Leeds and York
- Project support workers, who help teams like the Volunteer Service
Celebrating our Volunteers
As part of Volunteers’ Week 2025, the Trust celebrated the dedication and impact of its volunteers. Volunteers contribute across various roles, from supporting services to sharing lived experiences that shape care. Highlights include stories from volunteers like Stephanie, whose voice has influenced perinatal care. The Trust hosted appreciation events, recognising volunteers from diverse backgrounds, including those involved in addiction support, befriending, and pet therapy.
Celebrating our volunteers
Interested? How to apply
Application Criteria
To apply as a volunteer, you must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be able to commit to volunteering for at least six months
- Provide references
- Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Complete a Occupational Health Check
Get in touch
We’d really encourage you to reach out and contact us first if you’d like to discuss becoming a volunteer.
If you’re ready to apply, please email the Voluntary Service Team for an application form. Please let us know if you need support to fill it in.