Volunteering and working full time......

Hi All,

I'm just wondering has anyone found it hard locating voluntary work whilst also having a full time job?

I've emailed a lot of contacts on the nhs websites only to have th emails returned because the email is non longer valid or the nhs web washer is at work!

All local antenatal classes tend to be midday during the week, think I've managed to find one place that run a Tuesday evening class.

Still waiting to call Liverpool Women's on the first of next month, called this month and the recruitment session was already full

Makes me think no wonder they ask for voluntary work because you do have to be dedicated to keep on looking because its not easy!!

I've got it into my head now I just can't wait to start - best find somewhere soooooon!!

Thanks all, Lxx

Yes, very much so unfortunately. I therefore made the massive decision, in order to stand any chance of getting the necessary work experience I need to go to uni, to leave my very stressful f/t job! I now work p/t, but am able to volunteer as a peer supporter and am now desparately trying to get a job as a hca.

Lots of luck

It *is* possible to get some voluntary work whilst working f/t. I got hold of the lady in charge of voluntary work at my local hospital and enquired there. They had a couple of options: either help on a ward or run tours of the maternity dept for mums and dads-to-be. I now do one evening a week on an ante/postnatal ward. Hope that helps!

I got in touch with my local hospital. Unfortunately there were no vacancies on the maternity wing so I took a voluntary post on Gynaecology ward. I showed commitment and when a post became available I was offered it. You need to be prepared to do what ever it takes to get relevant experience. I've since gone on to join the Bank as a HCA. Good luck

Ive got some work experience for a week next month and liverpool womens then a week in june at one of my local hospitals. Its so hard to get it, it has taken me about 6 months to secure these places! I just rang like everyday until a space became available aha bet they were fed up of me in the end I did try for voluntary work also but they had nothing and kept forgetting to ring me back, hopeless!

And Little Mermaid

How do you join the bank? That would possibly be a back up for me if I dont get in this year but I never knew how do go about it! lol xxx

When I called Liverpool Women's they said the best thing is to go down before 9am as you're pretty much guaranteed a slot x

After reading all these posts i am trying to get ahead a litte as it seems to take a long time. I start my access course in Sept and have started looking for voluntary work at my local hospitals but am not getting any responses, does anyone have any tips on what i should try next?

Yes I encountered the same difficulty, however I found that any 'care' work experience is enough, it doesn't have to be in a maternity setting. I volunteered for a befriending scheme one evening a week and for a disability charity on the weekend, and applied the skills i'd developed in these roles to prove my suitability for midwifery in my PS. Hope that helps!

I'm starting my access in September too and the first letter I received from them said to start looking now. I imagine they know it can take a long time so give good warning.

I think if I don't manage to get into LWH I'll probably apply for Alder Hey children's hospital and also attend antenatal classes.

You would think as hospitals know that voluntary work is required for prospective students they should have a program set up so you start before Uni and then after a year your voluntary role changes and then the newbies take over. And then maybe once you're a student you don't get to choose the dept. if you continue to volunteer. Maybe silly but just an idea xx

i was thinking that foxlady, would make things a lot easier!