Make a difference – join our valued volunteers!
Kind hearted and community spirited, our valued volunteers are the lifeblood of the Urostomy Association. Using their own experience of living with a urostomy to provide support, information and advocacy for people with – or about to have – a urinary diversion, they make a positive difference to them and their families and carers.
We appreciate that everyone who wants to volunteer with us is unique, bringing their personality, experience and skills to the role – or roles – they choose. We invite everyone regardless of their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion and culture.
If you have some time to spare and want to join us, we’ll help you find the volunteering opportunity that’s right for you. We listen to what you would like to do, and not like to do, and what motivates you to volunteer with us.
Our volunteer roles
Currently, we have a growing band of fantastic volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds. With demand on our charity’s services growing though, we want to increase our volunteer numbers so we can reach more people who need the Association’s help.
Urostomy Association volunteers are involved in one or more of the following roles:
- Buddying (peer) support. Volunteers draw on their own experiences to provide support to others by way of listening and showing empathy, as well as providing information. They do this over the phone or in person (where possible), helping to ensure that no-one feels alone whether they are facing surgery, have recently had surgery or even if they have had a urostomy for a long time.
- Local champions. As a Local Champion you would represent the Association at open days and other events. You might also be able to organise some small get-togethers in your own community.
- Community fundraisers. Fundraisers arrange local activities and events – such as sponsored challenges, quiz nights and coffee mornings – in aid of the Association.
- Readers’ panel. These volunteers kindly help with reviewing our information guides and other materials.
Why volunteer?
The reasons people choose to join our friendly community of volunteers are as varied as our volunteers themselves. However, people often tell us they get out just as much as they put in – if not more – because it can be such a rewarding experience.
Some of our volunteers cite the following reasons for doing what they do:
- Wanting to give something back to the Association because of the help they or their loved one received
- Widening their horizons and meeting new people
- Using their skills – or taking the opportunity to learn extra ones
Training and support
We want to ensure that volunteering with us is a great experience for everyone who gets involved. We’ll support you every step of the way, including through training from our staff, trustees and other volunteers.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more, we’d love to hear from you. Please email Samantha via info@urostomyassociation.org.uk.