Volunteers support everything we do at Rainbows

By volunteering with us, you’ll become part of our amazing team. With over 250 dedicated volunteers supporting our work across a range of roles, there are a variety ways you can make a difference. Whether you are interested in a role at our hospice, in the local community or in our retail shops, we will have something that suits you.

Volunteers get involved for a variety of reasons. Some want to make a positive difference to the babies, children, young people and families that we support, others want to develop new skills, or simply to meet new people and have fun.

Everyone who volunteers for us does have one thing in common, they’re absolutely vital to our work! In whatever volunteer role you do, you make a huge difference to the lives of babies, children, young people and their families.

To get started, please click on the roles below where we are actively seeking new volunteers. If you are interested in becoming involved, you can download an application form by clicking here: Volunteer Application Form.

If you have any questions or want to return the application form electronically, please contact us on [email protected] or call us on 01509 283 956.

Keep In Touch Volunteer

Keep in Touch Volunteers play a vital role in connecting families with the Hospice. Volunteers do this by making an outreach telephone call to a family; checking-in with them and signposting them to any wider support which may be needed, as well as any support or services which Rainbows may be able to provide.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS
Time Commitment: Monday-Friday; 4 hours a week, 9:30am-1:30pm

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Kitchen Assistant Volunteer

Our dining room is one of the most important places in the hospice and always a hub of activity where families and visitors can sit together and enjoy a tasty meal or treat during their time at Rainbows. Your contribution is vital to creating a positive experience for our babies, children, young people and their families.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS
Time Commitment: Monday-Sunday; Minimum 2 hours a week

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Van Driver Volunteer

Step into the driver’s seat and join our close-knit team of drivers and mates. Whilst you start at our hospice in Lark Rise, you will be travelling the landscapes of the East Midlands, where every mile driven fuels our support for our babies, children, young people and their families. Last year our van drivers and mates covered over 18,700 miles, showing just how vital a link they are between the hospice and our retail shops. Your role in transporting our donations directly contributes to raising valuable funds crucial for our hospice’s work.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS
Time Commitment: Monday-Friday; Minimum 4 hours a week between 8:30am-12:30pm or 1pm-5pm

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Van Drivers Mate Volunteer

Step into the passenger seat and join our close-knit team of drivers and mates. Whilst you start at our hospice in Lark Rise, you will be travelling the landscapes of the East Midlands, where every mile driven fuels our support for our babies, children, young people and their families. Last year our van drivers and mates covered over 18,700 miles, showing just how vital a link they are between the hospice and our retail shops. Your role in transporting our donations directly contributes to raising valuable funds crucial for our hospice’s work.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS
Time Commitment: Monday-Friday; Minimum 4 hours a week between 8:30am-12:30pm or 1pm-5pm

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Reception Volunteer- Friday AM

Reception Volunteers are the welcoming face and voice that greets every visitor and caller. They create a warm, inviting atmosphere and make the first impression unforgettable, embodying the spirit of care and compassion that Rainbows is known for.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS
Time Commitment: Friday; 10:00am-1:00pm

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Bow Bear Mascot

We are looking for volunteers with a sense of fun and energy who can wear the Bow Bear costume at events across the East Midlands. Bow Bear is hugely important in raising the profile of Rainbows and spreading fun and happiness to everyone they meet.

Location: Local events across the East Midlands
Time Commitment: Ad-hoc/Flexible

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Gardening Volunteer

Our garden volunteers play a vital role in transforming our hospice grounds into a vibrant and welcoming haven where our families and children can play and make special memories. Dive into a range of exciting tasks spread across our award-winning gardens, making sure that everyone can enjoy a safe and welcoming outdoor area. Celebrate your accomplishments with a well-earned tea break with new friends. Join us and let your green thumb make a real impact!

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS
Time Commitment: Monday or Wednesday morning; Minimum 2 hours a week

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Housekeeping Volunteer

With numerous visitors coming through our doors seven days a week, our dedicated Housekeeping team does an incredible job of keeping every area spotless, tidy, and welcoming; while also upholding the highest standards of infection control. Our Housekeeping Team help keep Rainbows looking its best, providing a wonderful experience for our families and visitors. You could be part of this exceptional team, contributing to the cleanliness and comfort of our hospice.

Location: Local events across the East Midlands
Time Commitment: Monday-Sunday; Minimum 2 hours a week between 9am-5pm.

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Retail Shop Volunteer

Our shops wouldn’t exist without the amazing support of our volunteers! You play a vital role in our high street presence, helping us raise awareness for Rainbows, sell our fantastic products, and generate crucial funds to support our hospice’s incredible work.

Our shop locations:

  • Arnold
  • Beeston
  • Long Eaton
  • Market Harborough
  • Wigston
  • Melton Mowbray
  • Lutterworth (OPENING SOON!)

Time Commitment: Monday-Sunday; Minimum 2 hours a week

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E-Commerce Volunteer

From donated treasures to exclusive Rainbows branded products, you’ll be behind the scenes in one of our bustling e-commerce hubs showcasing the very best of our new and pre-loved goods online. Whether stationed at our Wigston shop or at the hospice, you will be researching, pricing, photographing, listing and posting a variety of items to keep them out of landfill and raise vital funds in supporting babies, children, young people and their families across the East Midlands.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, LE11 2HS or Rainbows Wigston Charity Shop, LE18 1AD
Time Commitment: Monday-Friday; Minimum 2 hours a week between 9am-5pm.

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Event Support Volunteer

Every year hundreds of people run, abseil, skydive and eat cake, to raise funds to help Rainbows care for babies, children, young people and their families across the East Midlands. Behind them are a team of dedicated Event Volunteers who are vital in ensuring our events run smoothly.

From local concerts and golf days, to daring abseils and firewalks our events are vital in helping to raise not only funds, but awareness of the work Rainbows Hospice does across the East Midlands and they simply wouldn’t be possible without our enthusiastic volunteers helping on the day. Not only is it a great opportunity to connect with a range of different people; it is also one of our most flexible volunteering roles, allowing volunteers to choose events which fit around their schedule and commitments.

Location: Local events across the East Midlands
Time Commitment: Ad-hoc/Flexible

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Community Fundraiser Volunteer

Rainbows supports around 750 babies, children and young people, throughout the East Midlands, each year; but the annual statutory funding we receive would only keep Rainbows open for 7 weeks. Therefore, our Community Fundraisers play a vital role in helping us to, quite literally, keep our doors open.

With over 100 fundraising events and activities each year, there are lots of different ways you could help us raise vital money to help us brighten short lives – there really is something for everyone! Not only is it a great opportunity to connect with a range of different people; it is also one of our most flexible volunteering roles, allowing volunteers to choose events which fit around their schedule and commitments.

Location: Local events across the East Midlands
Time Commitment: Ad-hoc/Flexible

More Information

 If you are interested in becoming involved, you can download an application form by clicking here: Volunteer Application Form and emailing it to [email protected].

If you have any questions or want to return the application form electronically, please contact us on [email protected] or call us on 01509 283 956.