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Hospital Discharge Support Volunteer

Hospital Discharge Support Service Volunteers help older people get home from hospital safely and settle back home after their hospital stay.

What do Discharge Support Volunteer do?

The Hospital Discharge Support Service provides transport from Stoke Mandeville and Wexham Park after a hospital stay. Volunteers work alongside our drivers to help this experience, chatting to and encouraging our client through the journey.

Then at home, we help clients to settle in, checking they have all they need, such as milk in the fridge and the heating on, and that they are safe there.

This is a 7 day a week service so there are opportunities to volunteer at weekends, as well as in the week.

What you will get out of it

  • A real sense of purpose knowing you’re making a positive difference
  • Valuable experience in community and hospital support
  • Connection with a warm, friendly, and supportive team
  • Development opportunities, including induction and ongoing training

What is expected of me?

As a volunteer, you might help with:

  • Light grocery shopping

  • Light household tasks (washing up, changing bedding, tidying)

  • Making a cup of tea or coffee and offering companionship

  • Collecting prescriptions

  • Offering simple IT support to help access services

  • Signposting to other relevant services

  • Reading letters or assisting with paperwork

  • Posting letters or parcels

  • Helping someone engage with services they’ve been referred to

  • Making wellbeing calls

  • Helping with office administrative tasks

Every small action makes a big difference. You can indicate which tasks you would be happy to carry out.

Who we're looking for:

You don’t need special qualifications—just the right qualities:

  • Empathy for older people and the challenges they may face
  • Patience, kindness, and reliability
  • Enthusiasm and a positive attitude
  • Good communication and listening skills
  • Sensitivity to people with disabilities
  • A commitment to supporting someone in their recovery journey

Time Commitment

We’re grateful for any time you can give. Ideally, we’re looking for volunteers who can offer 1–2 hours a week for a minimum of 12 months. We encourage volunteers to attend organised coffee mornings.

Required Checks

To keep our service safe and supportive:

  • Two references are needed—one should be from an employer, tutor, or volunteer manager who has known you for at least two years.
  • An Enhanced DBS check is required (we cover the cost).

Our commitment to you

We’ll make sure you receive:

  • Full and appropriate training for your role
  • Ongoing support from our staff team
  • Reimbursement for agreed out-of-pocket expenses
  • A welcoming, inclusive volunteer community

Join us and help make a real impact in our community. We can’t wait to work with you!

Find out more

To find out more about volunteering with Age UK Buckinghamshire, please click below and submit our Volunteer Enquiry Form and we will be in touch in the next 2-3 working days.

Volunteer Enquiry Form 

For more information on volunteering roles you can contact our Volunteer Coordinator via phone or email.

Email - volunteers@ageukbucks.org.uk
Phone - 01296 431911