Volunteering

Help bring creativity, conversation and connection to patients across Barts Health NHS Trust.

Vital Arts is looking for volunteers to support our Creative Health programme and wider work across the Trust. Whether working directly with patients, caring for the hospital art collection, or helping us share stories online, volunteers play an important role in making healthcare environments more welcoming, engaging and person-centred.

Our volunteers support patients to engage with arts activities that can improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and encourage movement during their time in hospital. They also help care for one of the UK's largest hospital art collections and support the promotion of Vital Arts programmes through marketing, communications and digital content.

Working alongside clinical teams and Vital Arts staff, volunteers help create positive experiences for patients, visitors and staff through creativity, conversation and access to the arts.

Why volunteer?

Vital Arts volunteers help make hospital environments more welcoming, stimulating and supportive places for everyone.

Depending on the role, volunteers may help patients to:

  • Feel less isolated or anxious

  • Take part in enjoyable creative activities

  • Connect with others

  • Build confidence and motivation

  • Engage in gentle movement and rehabilitation where appropriate

  • Discover arts and cultural opportunities beyond hospital

Volunteers can also gain experience in collections management, arts administration, communications, marketing and creative health practice.

No artistic experience is required. We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate people who enjoy working with others and are interested in the role creativity can play in health and wellbeing.

Training and support

All volunteers receive an induction, training and ongoing support from the Vital Arts team and Barts Health Volunteering Service. Opportunities for shadowing, learning and development are provided throughout the programme.

Opportunities

  • Walk and Talk / Creative Bedside Volunteer

    Working closely with nurses, therapists and ward teams, volunteers support patients to engage with art and creativity during their hospital stay.

    Volunteers may:

    • Accompany patients on short walks around the ward to view artworks and hospital spaces

    • Use conversation prompts and artworks to encourage reflection and social interaction

    • Support small creative activities in ward day rooms

    • Deliver simple one-to-one creative activities at the bedside for patients unable to leave their bed

    This role is currently based on Older Adults wards and Stroke wards after 1pm, and supports wider efforts to encourage patients to remain active and engaged during their recovery.

    Volunteering is flexible, with a minimum commitment of three hours per session.

    Occupational Health clearance required.

    Apply

  • Collections Care Volunteer

    Support the care and management of the Vital Arts Collection, one of the largest hospital arts collections in the UK.

    Working alongside the Vital Arts Technician and Installation Lead, volunteers may:

    • Help document and catalogue artworks

    • Support condition checking and artwork audits

    • Assist with collection care projects

    • Contribute to the interpretation and promotion of the collection

    Volunteering is flexible, with a minimum commitment of three hours per session.

    Occupational Health clearance required.

    Apply

  • Marketing and Communications Volunteer

    Help share the stories behind our programmes and collections.

    Volunteers may:

    • Create content for social media

    • Write newsletters, blog posts and artist features

    • Support website updates

    • Help document projects and events

    • Promote opportunities to patients, staff and the wider community

    This role is suitable for people interested in communications, arts marketing, journalism or digital content creation.

    Volunteering is flexible, with a minimum commitment of three hours per session.

    Apply