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Volunteering opportunities for doctors

Click on this volunteering abroad link if you're interested in international volunteering opportunities.

Why should I volunteer? 

• You’ll gain skills and experiences that will add value to your professional practice.
• It’s an opportunity to help inspire and support local communities.
• The chance to support some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.
• An opportunity to reinvest your expertise through education of others in a voluntary setting.
• Some schemes provide opportunities to support the next generation of doctors offering advice and support to medical students.

• Volunteering nationwide opportunities

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  Below are national volunteering opportunities for doctors in England:

   

  Health Ambassadors 

  Do you want to inspire the next generation of health care professionals? Volunteering as a Health Ambassador is your opportunity to work with young people in primary and secondary schools and inspire them to think about opportunities in medicine. You’ll also support the education sector in providing up to date learning and careers information.

  Click on the link to find out more about Health Ambassadors

   

  Royal Medical Benevolent Fund 

  The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (the Doctors Charity) supports doctors, medical students and their dependents, as well as refugee doctors, with a plethora of support services, ranging from financial support to isolation services.

  As a Doctor/GP you could volunteer as an Area Visitor 

  You could also volunteer as a Medical Liaison Officer

   

  St John Ambulance 

  St John Ambulance is a volunteering organisation that provides first aid care within the community.

  There are opportunities for doctors trained in general practice, emergency medicine and other specialties to play a vital role in supporting St John Ambulance , both in the delivery of clinical training and support, and in helping the organisation to maintain their high standards.

  Find out more about volunteering with St John Ambulance

   

  Festival Medical Services

  FMS is a ‘not for profit’ registered medical charity delivering high-quality event medical services at some of the UK’s largest festivals and gatherings. Working with a team of other medical practitioner you could deliver volunteering medical services to any one of events and festivals that take place in the UK. Find out more about Festival Volunteering for doctors

• Volunteering locally opportunities

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  For more local volunteering opportunities for doctors in training, these lists of projects may be of interest:

   

  Doctors of the World – London and South East England

  Doctors of the World offer opportunities for UK GP’s and other medical professionals to run both clinical and advocacy programmes to vulnerable people. The programme runs in London, Hackney and Brighton.

  Find out more about volunteering for local doctor of the world programmes. You may also be interested in this downloadable poster and volunteering video.

   

  Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders) – London

  Clinical and clerical volunteer opportunities for doctors in London, to support the international work of doctors without borders.

  To find out more about volunteering for local medecins sans frontieres locally.

   

  Team up – London

  This is a London-wide volunteering programme which partners trainee doctors and dentists, health care students and public health professionals with community organisations to deliver sustainable health and wellbeing projects for disadvantaged communities. Find out more about volunteering for team up opportunities. You may also be interested in Team up's volunteering video.

   

  Community Fellowships in Public Health – Wessex Deanery

  This programme offers opportunities for FY2 trainees to undertake a four month voluntary placement in public health, alongside their clinical work, to provide mentorship support.

  To find out more about volunteering for the community fellowships 

   

  Public Health Community Fellowship Scheme – West Midlands

  This programme based in the West Midlands, is a voluntary opportunity in defined health and well-being project opportunities for junior doctors.

  Find out more about volunteering for a public health community fellowship 

   

  Careers Champion scheme – Kent, Surrey & Sussex

  The careers champions scheme is designed to put foundation doctors in touch with more senior colleagues at their trust who are willing to discuss career related enquiries about their profession.

  Find out more about volunteering as a careers champion  

   

  East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme (EMICS) – East Midlands

  A volunteering scheme for doctors in the East Midlands looking to support East Midland’s emergency services.

  Find out more about volunteering at the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme  

   

  Widening Access to Medical School (WAMS) – University of Leeds 

  WAMS offers the opportunity for medical students to encourage as many students as possible to consider medicine as a career and then provide assistance to help them reach their goal.

  It runs events almost monthly at the University of Leeds, provides an ambassadors scheme where medical students go out to local high schools, a primary school scheme and a mentoring service.

  Find out more about volunteering at WAMS 

   

  Northern Cleft Foundation – North England

  Volunteering for the Northern Cleft Foundation is situated in the north of England, specifically aimed at treating people from India with untreated cleft palates. The training, volunteering and fundraising takes place in the North of England. However, this opportunity does also involve travelling to India.

  Find out more about volunteering at the northern cleft foundation click on the following link: http://www.northerncleftfoundation.co.uk/become-a-ncf-volunteer/

   

  BASICS – South Western (including Somerset, Devon and Cornwall)

  The BASICS volunteering opportunity for doctors, incorporates a number of emergency volunteer opportunities for doctors working with South Western Ambulance Service, working across Somerset, Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall and Wiltshire.

  Find out more about volunteering opportunities with BASICS (please note this link then provides the individual links to each geographical location specific schemes).

• Other UK volunteering opportunities

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  Other non-clinical volunteering opportunities are also available, below are a few third sector organisations:

  • Do-it 
  • Volunteering matters 
  • Reach skills 
  • Charity jobs  
  • Red cross 
  • Government volunteering 

• Resources

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  BMA

  The Gold Guide has information on taking time out of programme, sections 6.73 – 6.98

  BMJ Careers

  It is also recommended that you get in contact with your Royal College or professional body as they may have information on global health opportunities.