Hospital charities invest in the future of volunteering through new £100k+ Helpforce partnership

Two hospital charities have joined forces with Helpforce to make a significant investment in the future of volunteering across hospitals serving South West London and Surrey.

St George’s Hospital Charity and Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity have committed more than £60,000 to strengthen and expand volunteering services across St George’s Hospital, Epsom Hospital, St Helier Hospital, and Queen Mary’s Hospital.

The funding will support a range of initiatives designed to enhance the volunteer experience and increase the impact volunteers have on patients, families, and healthcare staff. Projects include new volunteer uniforms, funding for a dedicated volunteer support role, and a new partnership with Helpforce to develop innovative volunteering programmes across the group.

Through Helpforce match funding, the charities’ joint investment has unlocked a further £45,000, creating a substantial boost for volunteering development and innovation.

The funding will enable the introduction and expansion of several high-impact volunteer roles, including discharge response volunteers, additional mealtime assistance volunteers and end-of-life care volunteers. These roles will provide practical and emotional support to patients during some of the most important moments of their healthcare journey.

Research from Helpforce shows that 87% of frontline healthcare staff believe volunteers improve the quality of care they are able to provide, while 80% of patients say volunteers help them feel less anxious during their healthcare experience.

Amerjit Chohan, Chief Executive of Helpforce, said:

“We are delighted to be working with St George’s Hospital Charity and Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity on this exciting expansion of volunteering across St George’s, Epsom, St Helier and Queen Mary’s Hospitals. Our evidence shows that expertly designed volunteering programmes can have a transformative impact on hospital efficiency, staff morale, and patient experience.”

Volunteer teams across the hospital group already support hundreds of volunteers who make a meaningful difference every day. Among them is Marion Landeg, who volunteers in the Emergency Department at Epsom Hospital. Her support includes offering refreshments, helping maintain patient areas and providing reassurance to patients who may feel alone or uncertain while receiving care.

Stephanie Sweeney, Group Director of Quality and Safety Governance and Executive Lead for Volunteering at St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said:

“Volunteers play a vital role in our hospitals, bringing compassion, reassurance and practical support to patients, families and staff every day. This investment reflects our commitment to growing and strengthening volunteering across St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, delivering more positive impact on patient care and experience.”

This partnership demonstrates the growing recognition of volunteering as a vital part of healthcare delivery and highlights how collaborative investment can help create even greater impact for patients, staff and local communities.