By volunteering as part of the Acorns family, you are joining at team of invaluable supporters who contribute to the vital work that we do at Acorns Children’s Hospice; making a difference to children with life limiting or life threatening conditions, and their families.
Volunteering
Whether giving the gift of time at our hospices, supporting in one of our shops, or fundraising for us at events or in the local community, we welcome volunteers with a variety of skills, experiences and time.
There are currently a range of great volunteering opportunities available at Acorns – whether you can spare an hour or two, help out for a day, or if you can be involved on a more regular basis, we’d love to hear from you.
Find out more about volunteering at Acorns
Volunteer in a hospice
Volunteering at your local children’s hospice is an incredibly rewarding experience. With a variety of roles available, you’re guaranteed to find something that suits you and we will work with you to best meet the current needs of the hospice and your interests, skills and availability.
Volunteering roles available include:
- Befriending
- Sibling and family support
- Reception and Administration
- Gardening
- Pool spotting
All our volunteers are interviewed, and references and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service checks) conducted. Because of the nature of the work we do, it is important that volunteers are introduced carefully into working within the hospice environment and we can only accept applications from people aged 17 or above.
Contact us about volunteering
At the Acorns Hospices, we’re so fortunate to have the support of a fantastic team of dedicated volunteers! They are supported by a brilliant team of Volunteer Coordinators, who are there for you every step of the way.
If you are interested in volunteering and would like to find out more, please drop us an email or call for an informal chat – or feel free to head straight to the opportunities page and apply!
Acorns in Birmingham (located in Selly Oak)
Volunteer Coordinators – Donna Norford and Becky Kibbler
0121 248 4850
Acorns in the Black Country (located in Walsall)
Volunteer Coordinator – Camilla Clarke
01922 422500
Acorns for the Three Counties (located in Worcester)
Volunteer Coordinator – Shelley McGuigan
01905 767676
Volunteer in a shop
Our Retail team simply couldn’t operate our shops without the help of our valued shop volunteers. Some volunteers give a few hours a week whilst others give a couple of days, but no matter how much time you are able to give, you can be sure that you will be making a real difference to local children and their families. All of our shop volunteers receive training and work under the guidance of Acorns Shop Management.
Why volunteer in an Acorns shop?
For some, working as an Acorns charity shop volunteer gives them the confidence to find paid employment and the chance to gain valuable skills and experience. For others it is a way to meet people, make friends and enjoy being part of a busy and friendly team.
Our volunteers are central to the success of each shop and get involved in many aspects of day-to-day retail operations. Tasks range from sorting stock or preparing items for sale, to working on the tills or helping customers – as well as bringing their own specialist skills and knowledge to the role some volunteers take on extra responsibility as Support Volunteers or Key Volunteers.
Drivers Mate Volunteer
If you’d like to volunteer as a Drivers Mate for our furniture shop in Chelmsley Wood, please contact the shop directly or fill out our form.
Volunteering experience for students and young people
Do you need to gain volunteer hours to complete your college or university course? Or are you looking to improve your CV and learn new skills?
Whatever your reasons, giving your time at your local Acorns shop has many benefits. Not only will you learn new skills and gain valuable work experience, but you will also meet new people and have fun whilst supporting local children in your area.
We are pleased to accept volunteers from the age of 14*, but only as part of an organised programme such as Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or school-arranged work experience. These opportunities are limited to our charity shops and are dependent on availability.
(*Please note that volunteers aged 17 or under must have parent/guardian consent.)
Volunteering in fundraising
Each month we have a welcome event dedicated to our new starters, this includes volunteers should you wish to attend. Here we are able to fully immerse you into Acorns and it is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people from across the organisation and better understand the cause. Don’t worry if you can’t make it, we also have a digital version coming soon.
Acorns Fundraising Volunteers are an essential part of our Community Fundraising and Events teams and help us generate vital funds to support our care services.
Our roles are varied and we have all kinds of rewarding and fun opportunities available, such as volunteering for the day at an Acorns event, raising our profile by visiting local groups and schools or placing collection tins in your local area.
There are currently a range of great volunteering opportunities available at Acorns – whether you can spare an hour or two, help out for a day, or if you can be involved on a more regular basis.
If you have any questions, can’t see an opportunity you’d like right now, or would like to register with us, please contact us at volunteer@acorns.org.uk or fill out our online form.
We will try our best to match you to your preferred role however please be aware that all roles are subject to availability.