Volunteering Opportunities For Medicine: The Ultimate Guide To Volunteering for Medical School in 2024

Long-term volunteering generally involves spending a certain amount of time on a weekly or fortnightly basis volunteering - or perhaps even more regularly. 

It is a great way of demonstrating commitment over an extended period of time, something which medical schools look for, especially those that have previously looked at this on a roles & responsibilities form such as Keele & Sunderland (they no longer do this). 

Some examples of volunteering opportunities near you that you could look into for medical long-term volunteering include:

• Hospital welcome or ward volunteer: These roles involve working in a hospital environment, so enable you to observe another side of working in a hospital. They can also be great gateways to clinical work experience, as you may make connections who can offer this to you further down the line! If you’re wondering how to volunteer at a hospital, then check out the website of your local NHS board or get in touch with the hospital’s admin department.

• Nightline volunteer: Nightline is a mental health support organisation that is regularly looking for volunteers to fill a wide range of roles. If you check out their website, you may find something which interests you.

• Care home befriender or events organiser: Many local care homes are very happy to take on volunteers from high schools, either to come in and speak to residents over a cup of tea or coffee or to help them to run events for the residents. You should contact their activities department to see if this could be for you. Care home work experience looks great on a medical school application.

• AgeUK befriender volunteer: AgeUK works with a significant number of befrienders, who keep elderly people company and talk to them. This is an excellent way of demonstrating compassion, as well as building up your communication skills.

• Kissing it better charity: KIB is a charity that links younger & older generations in order to reduce loneliness. You can even volunteer with them online, so it’s a great covid-safe option.

Additionally, you could look at long-term volunteering that is less directly medical but still highly valuable:

• Charity shop work: Applying to work in a local charity shop is a great way of showing dedication, as well as allowing you to build up your communication skills by working with a diverse group of people. Try walking into some local shops and asking whether they’re currently looking for volunteers. This is commonly shops such at St Lukes Hospice or the British Heart Foundation.

• Sports or activities coaching: If you’ve been playing a particular sport or participating in an activity eg debating for an extended period of time, you may be able to try your hand at volunteering to coach younger pupils in the same activity. Ask your school, club or whichever organisation you participate with whether this is something that you could do. This is an excellent leadership role, and also allows you to practice teaching which is a crucial skill for doctors to possess.

• Assistant teaching: Many high schools which are linked to particular primary schools run programs where older pupils can volunteer to work with younger pupils. Ask your school’s admin team if this is something that you could get involved in. It also has the added benefit of being something that you could do during free periods within the school day.