Volunteer
We simply couldn’t do what we do without the help of volunteers.
Whether you’re looking for a regular volunteering opportunity or just want to help out every once in a while, there are so many ways you can support us by giving your time.
Volunteering with ECHC
Volunteers help in many ways, from staffing our hospital shops, supporting us at our events, distributing and gathering collection cans and helping in the office.
As an ECHC volunteer, you will receive an induction and all necessary training. You will have a named contact and be welcomed to volunteer events to meet the wider team and other volunteers. We will also regularly keep you up to date with any new opportunities and how your support is making a difference.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept volunteers under the age of 16 unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Please scroll down to find out about the current volunteering roles we have available.
Equal opportunities & access needs
We want everyone to have opportunity to take part. Having a diverse range of perspectives within our volunteer group improves our work and upholds our values. We encourage people that represent the diverse communities that we serve to apply to volunteer with us. We actively recruit volunteers with experience of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic minoritisation and from LGBTQIA+ communities.
We think carefully when creating our roles to cater to a broad range of access needs. We encourage you to discuss your access needs when invited to interview and we will then adapt our process as best we can. We can also explore together the role that might best suit you. Whilst we can’t guarantee a position that suits all access needs, we actively work towards broadening accessibility with our volunteers and staff. All disabled applicants who meet our role criteria will be interviewed.
Welcome and Reception Volunteer
Could you be the face of ECHC? Based near one of the main entrances of Edinburgh’s children’s hospital, you will often be the first point of contact for hosptial visitors. You will assist with directions and wayfinding while also ensuring all those who come through the doors are aware of ECHC’s services and work.
We are looking for volunteers for weekdays (Mon-Fri) 9am-1pm and 1-5pm – one volunteer per slot.
For more information about the role please check out the role profile. To apply, click below.
Digital: Social Media Content Volunteer
Are you considering a career in marketing/comms/digital and keen to gain practical, hands-on experience of creating content for social media in a busy environment? Then this is the volunteering role for you!
We’re looking for a friendly and enthusiastic volunteer to help capture videos and photos of our activities and impact within the hospital, to be shared on our social media channels.
Full training will be provided, but some experience of and a passion for content creation is desirable, and being comfortable working with families in a hospital setting is a must.
Shop Volunteer
We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to help in the ECHC Hospital shop. Our shop serves the staff, children, families and visitors in the RHCYP with drinks, snacks, sandwiches, gifts and more. No experience is necessary as full training will be given. Please see role profile for more details. We are currently looking for support at the following times:
- Tuesdays 8am-12pm or 9am-1pm (fortnightly)
- Wednesdays 8am-11am (fortnightly)
- Wednesdays 2pm-5pm (weekly, temporary vacancy)
- Thursdays 8am-1pm (weekly)
- Sundays 10am-3:30pm (monthly)
Hub Volunteers
We’re seeking volunteers to support our drop in service, The Hub, based within the RHCYP. In this varied role we’re looking for people who can enthusiastically participate in activities with children and young people, and provide an empathetic listening ear to families when needed. If this sounds like you, please do get in touch.
Full details can be found in the role profile and the available, weekly slots are:
- Monday 12.30pm – 4pm
- Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm
- Friday 12.30pm – 4pm
- We are also seeking ad hoc volunteers available to cover various slots during the school holidays
Fundraising Volunteers
Our fundraising team is vital to the work of ECHC, raising the funds to help seriously ill babies, children and young people in hospital. We are keen to build and develop our team of volunteers who support our fundraising activities, creating a bank of trained volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks throughout the year.
Volunteers support us at events, from bag packs and bucket collections to helping at black tie dinners. If you would like to know about these ad hoc opportunities please get in touch: volunteering@echcharity.org
We also have regular fundraising volunteers supporting us in the office and more. Please see individual role profiles below for more information or get in touch if you want to chat through the requirements of the role:
- Static Can Volunteer
Assisting the fundraising team with picking up and replacing static cans in businesses throughout Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians. We are particularly looking for volunteers to support in Edinburgh City centre/West End and in the Borders.
Full Role Profile
To apply for any of these roles, please click the button to complete the Volunteer Application form, ensuring you give details of relevant skills or experience for the role(s) applied for in relation to the role profile.
Hospital Volunteering
Please note: the volunteering opportunities we offer are to support the work undertaken and services provided by our charity. Many of our opportunities are NOT based within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
If you are looking to volunteer within the hospital (e.g. ward volunteers), please visit the NHS Lothian volunteering page for more information.
