Make a Referral Donate Now
Our services

We are here for you. Find out more about our services and the different ways we can support you.

We’re here for you

Whether you’re living with a life-limiting illness, caring for someone who is, or grieving the death of a loved one, we’re here to help.

To reach our main reception at the hospice, please call 01246 568801
How you can help

There are lots of ways you can support us and help make a difference.

thumbnail
About us

We are here for the people of North Derbyshire and beyond.

thumbnail
Our shops and coffee shops

Shopping with us or donating items for us to sell helps fund our compassionate care.

Find your local Ashgate Hospice shop:
Make a Referral Donate Now
Ashgate Hospice > Volunteering
Why volunteer at Ashgate Hospice?

Volunteering at Ashgate Hospice offers you the chance to help people in need. But, the benefits of volunteering can be even greater for you.

A rad wolf
A rad wolf

Volunteer enquiry form

Want to get involved? The next step is to fill in our volunteer enquiry form.

Volunteer enquiry form
Please tick all that apply

Reference one

Please provide the names, addresses, email address and telephone number of two referees. For retail, only one reference is required. These should be from someone that can vouch for your suitability and capability to be able to carry out the role. This must be someone that has known you for at least two years. We cannot accept references from family members.
Please provide an email address where possible as this will speed up the application process.

Reference two

Please provide an email address where possible as this will speed up the application process.

Health conditions

COVID vaccine

As a healthcare provider, it is very important to us that our staff and volunteers have the annual flu jab and the COVID vaccination as we believe having the vaccinations not only protects you but also helps us to keep our patients, staff, volunteers, visitors and supporters safe. Please could you provide the dates of your COVID vaccinations below:

Parent or guardian consent declaration

Parental consent is required for all volunteers under the age of 18. Parents or guardians will be invited along to interview, although it is not mandatory that you attend. I am aware that the person named on this enquiry form has applied to carry out voluntary work with Ashgate Hospice. I am aware of the role they have applied for.

Emergency contact details

Please provide details of who you would like us to contact in case of an emergency.

Additional information

Information Governance and Declaration

All information processed by Ashgate Hospice adheres to data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All information provided on this form will only be used to process your application to volunteer with Ashgate Hospice. All information will only be kept for as long as necessary and in line with our Records Management policy (a copy is available on request). I understand that appointment as a volunteer will be subject to all the information in this application, including that relating to criminal convictions, being complete and correct and that any false information given may invalidate this application or lead to a cessation of volunteering.

Criminal record declaration

If you have answered yes, you now have two options on how to disclose your criminal record
A rad wolf
Leaflet | 9 January 2023

Volunteer handbook

This handbook contains important and useful information about volunteering with us.
A rad wolf

Become a Patron and support your local hospice

As a Patron, you’d help to foster greater understanding and awareness of the services we provide in the communities we serve, raise awareness of our finding challenges and develop relationships with key stakeholders who will help us to achieve our ambitions.

Find out more
A rad wolf
Article | 31 May 2022
Volunteers’ Week: Meet Julian who comforts patients and loved ones in their final days

Julian Bowers-Brown has been volunteering at Ashgate Hospice for almost three years. When he first joined, he worked out in the community supporting children between the ages of seven and 12 following the death of a close relative.
A rad wolf
Article | 7 February 2022
“Volunteering in Ashgate’s shops is a great way to get job experience”

Mike Collins, a steward at Chesterfield FC, decided to volunteer in Ashgate’s Chesterfield town centre shop to gain some more retail experience eight years ago – and hasn’t looked back since. 
A rad wolf

Alisha and Keris's story

Sisters, Alisha and Keris Hurrell, 17, from Temple Normanton in Chesterfield will spend Boxing Day volunteering on the Inpatient Unit at the hospice and are hoping to inspire others to come forward.

Read more

Frequently asked questions

Volunteering
How old do I have to be to volunteer?

For most roles, the minimum age for volunteering at Ashgate Hospice is 15 years old. For patient-facing roles, you will need to be at least 17 years old.

How much time do I have to give?

You can give as much or as little of your time as you can. Every little helps! Some of our roles, particularly patient-facing roles, need a little more training. So, for those roles, we do ask that volunteers commit to a regular shift if possible. 

Who can volunteer?

The easy answer to that is anyone. Everyone has something to bring to Ashgate Hospice. We want our volunteer teams to represent the diversity of our local community. For example: 

  • if you have some spare time, you can help our fundraising teams by helping at events 
  • if you are retired, we will welcome your experience and skills. Plus, volunteering can help you make new friends and regain a sense of purpose 
  • if you are a student, you can volunteer to gain experience to enhance your career prospects 
  • if you want to boost your confidence to gain paid employment, volunteering can help (and shouldn’t affect any benefits you may claim).
How do I find out about volunteering roles?

We advertise all our current volunteer roles on our website. If your preferred role isn’t advertised, we’d still love to hear from you. Our Volunteering Team can give advice on volunteering and help to match you to the right role.

Do I need experience to volunteer?

No, all we ask is that you work within our values and bring a positive, can-do attitude. We’ll match you to the right role and provide you with the training required. 

What training will there be?

All roles have on-the-job training. We also ask that all volunteers complete our essential training. This will enable you to keep yourself safe in the role and give you all the knowledge and skills you need to carry it out. We also have role-specific training where required.

Do you pay expenses?

We pay full travel expense for volunteers travelling on public transport. We also pay car mileage and car parking charges (conditions apply).

How do I apply to volunteer?

Please complete our volunteer enquiry form. You can find this on our website or we can post a copy out to you. To find out more, please get in touch with us at volunteering@ashgatehospice.org.uk or call 01246 568801. 

Will I need to give a reference?

We do ask for either one or two references depending on the role you are applying for. We also require DBS checks for some roles.

Do you offer corporate volunteering?

Yes, we do. Corporate volunteers can help us in many ways, whether that’s in our grounds and gardens, in our shops or at events. You can help us to build community links and valuable business support. Corporate volunteering gives us the opportunity to work with a dynamic team of people with varied skills. If you’re interested in corporate volunteering, please contact Ali Ward Foster at alison.ward-foster@ashgatehospice.org.uk. Find out more about corporate support.

Would you recommend volunteering after a bereavement?

We ask that people who have recently experienced a bereavement wait for twelve months, until after the first anniversary of the death before applying for a role that is patient facing on the ward or in our Supportive Care team.  We have had feedback that suggests the reality of being in a hospice setting can be particularly emotive and challenging for those who are recently bereaved.

As a hospice we also understand that volunteering can be very helpful in coming to terms with grief. We therefore have a number of different roles that are not patient facing which we would encourage potential volunteers to consider as an alternative.