Background
Working alongside the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we have developed opportunities for 16 – 21 year olds to get involved at their local hospitals and develop skills.
Youth Volunteering Programme – Summer 2026
The Summer Programme allows you to flexibly volunteer for 30 hours over an 8 week period between July and August.
The Summer Programme allows you to get stuck into hospital life as a volunteer, assisting patients in our receptions and outpatient areas, supporting patients on the wards at Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary's Hospitals.
Applications for Summer 2026 will open on 20 February and will require applicants to attend an interview and selection event during the first week of the school Easter holiday.
This is a very popular programme and applicants must meet one of the following criteria to attend a selection event:
- Live locally to one of our hospitals (within a local postcode or within 45minutes travel by public transport)
- Study at a school, college, or university local to one of our hospitals
- Have a personal connection to one of our hospitals (such as being a former patient)
Dates for the Youth Volunteering Programme - Summer 2026
Charing Cross Hospital - You must be free for a selection and interview event on Wednesday 1 April and a training day on either Saturday 13 June or Sunday 21 June.
Hammersmith Hospital - You must be free for a selection and interview event on Thursday 2 April and a training day on either Saturday 13 June or Sunday 21 June.
St Mary's Hospital - You must be free for a selection and interview event on Monday 30 March and a training day on either Saturday 20 June or Sunday 28 June.
Read more and apply here!Youth Volunteering Programme – Patient and Peer Engagement
We have historically had patient engagement volunteers spend time volunteering with us during the spring and autumn terms.
This has been paused for 2025 whilst we run a school-partnership volunteering opportunity.
Future Volunteering Opportunities
We hope to offer volunteering opportunities for both local school partnerships and for local individuals throughout the school year in the future. More details will be updated here.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Imperial Health Charity’s volunteering programme is recognised by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, as an Approved Activity Provider.
We are the first volunteering programme within an NHS hospital trust to be accredited by the Award, meaning you can take part and volunteer with the knowledge that the programme meets the highest standards set by the Award.
If you are over the age of 16, you can undertake the volunteering section of the Award by volunteering with us within one of our hospitals. You will need to complete a minimum period based on the Award you are currently undertaking:
- Bronze – 6 months
- Silver – 6 months
- Gold – 12 months
More information about the Award can be found here.
Please talk to your Volunteering Manager if you would like to complete the volunteering section of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with us.
