Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are the answers to your most frequently asked questions about volunteering at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
If you have a question that isn't answered here, please don't hesitate to contact us.
The process can take up to three months before you start volunteering. This will depend on how quickly you fill in and return the necessary forms and whether your chosen role is available.
Due to high volumes of applications and limited volunteering roles, we are unable to place everyone. This is why it is important that you provide us with as much relevant information as possible in your registration form and subsequent interview and training days.
Please refer to our step-by-step guide on how to apply for more details.
No. All volunteers must go through the necessary police checks, references, occupational health and training and this can take some time to complete. It is likely that you will not be able to start volunteering until three months after we receive your application form.
You will be trained and inducted into your role before you start. All our volunteers must attend a one-day GOSH induction programme and a one-day volunteer training course. You will have to complete some on-line training and finally have a local induction within your ward or department. Once you are in role, there are lots of ongoing training opportunities available.
No. We do not expect our volunteers to have specific qualifications or experience to volunteer.
We have a wide variety of available roles, ranging from direct patient and parent support to helping out in our laboratories. Take a look at our
list of current volunteer opportunities to see if there's something that will suit you.
Volunteer Services does not organise work experience. However, there is more information about
work experience in our Working For Us section.
Volunteer Services does not organise this. You will need to contact our
Human Resources department via the main switchboard.
We are unable to arrange student placements through Volunteer Services. Please contact the
Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) department for more information on how to apply.
We are currently unable to take anyone under 18 as a volunteer. This is due to responsibility and legal issues.
We ask you to commit to a minimum of 12 months for a volunteering role. This is because preparation to become a volunteer is intensive and recruiting volunteers for any less time commitment would be cost inefficient to GOSH.
Our arts and humanities programme,
GO Create!, occasionally take volunteers to support their work. However, it is rare for them to take art therapists for therapy related roles. If you require any further information, please contact the GO Create! team.
There are some roles within Volunteer Services where volunteers use arts and crafts to play with children. If you are interested, have a look at our list of
current volunteer opportunities to see if these roles are for you.
We don't have specific roles available for this, but there are some roles already available where reading to children is part of the job description. Have a look at our list of
current volunteer opportunities for more details.
We work closely with
GOSH Children's Charity to provide one-off volunteering for employees of companies who are supporting the charity through Charity of the Year or commercial fundraising partnerships. Please contact our
Corporate Partnerships team for more information on supporting the charity in this way.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate groups of school children. GOSH is a working hospital with very sick children and young people and large groups can be disruptive.
Yes, you can! Please bring your donation to the GOSH Children's Charity desk located in the main reception. If there is no-one on the desk, please take your donation to the
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) office, which is also located in the main reception, opposite the hospital shop.
