We are delighted that you are considering volunteering at our hospitals and hope the information we provide will help you with this process.
Our volunteers are usually local people who give their time to help others and to improve the quality of the care we offer to our patients at our 5 sites (Brighton - Royal Sussex County Hospital, Sussex Eye Hospital, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. Haywards Heath - Princess Royal Hospital and Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre). Devoting between 2 and 4 hours each week, they volunteer in a variety of different roles such as assisting on wards, out-patient clinics, receptions, offices, children’s hospital and eye hospital theatre.
Recruitment process (OASIS)
Our OASIS recruitment process is stringent but fair and if after reading all about it you would like your name added to our waiting list to be invited to one of our open mornings in the future please email: Voluntary.Services@bsuh.nhs.uk giving us your full name, telephone number and email address.
We hold open mornings four times a year and although we may not be able to invite you to the first scheduled open morning after you contact us, we will be in touch with you as soon as we have availability. Please also state which site you would prefer to volunteer at (choose the one closest to your home address) and we will confirm that you are on the waiting list.
We would stress that volunteering is about the help that you can give and not just about the experience that you can gain.
Click here to read guidance on work experience and volunteering
Student volunteers
Please note that if you are currently in full time education we do not accept direct enquires from students. All students have to be referred via their place of study. We work closely with schools and colleges in the Brighton and Sussex area to ensure students are included in our process.
Click here for details of the schools and colleges currently registered with us
We ask that you consider very carefully whether you can devote 6 months to your voluntary role, taking into account your study commitment and holidays, before deciding to apply to become a volunteer with us.
Work experience
Another route to gaining valuable experience for students is through work experience which offers placements for shorter periods of time and this route may be more suited to your needs. Click here for further information and to apply for work experience
Contact us
Royal Sussex County Hospital: 01273 664533
Available: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm
Princess Royal Hospital: 01444 441881 extn. 8501/8525
Available: Monday to Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm
Charitable organisations volunteering in the Trust
There are a number of charitable organisations whose volunteers fund-raise through the on-site shops and other ventures, as well as gift donations to help purchase much needed equipment for the hospitals. If you wish to volunteer with any of the following organisations you should contact them direct.
League of Friends at the Princess Royal Hospital
Friends of Brighton and Hove Hospitals
WRVS
Mid-Downs Radio
Coastway Radio
Rocking Horse Appeal
In addition we have a large band of chaplaincy volunteers who are available to talk with patients and their families on request. Recruitment to become a chaplaincy volunteer is via the Chaplaincy team. Please contact the team on 01273 696955 for further information.
