NHS and Care Volunteer Responders

NCL Wide

NHS and Care Volunteer Responders is a free, flexible, and easy-to-use volunteering programme supporting the NHS and healthcare teams across England, delivered by Royal Voluntary Service and GoodSAM.

Volunteers are available to support with a range of services. Healthcare teams can refer people for Check In and Chat and Companionship Calls as part of the Telephone Support service. They can also request Pick Up and Deliver support with the delivery of medication or supplies from hospital, and Community Response support with essential shopping and prescription delivery is available in some areas.

Request volunteer support via the website or by calling the service's Support Team below.

Support available

Check in and chat

Volunteers are available to provide a friendly call, encouragement and a listening ear, to support people's mental health and wellbeing.

This service is available for up to 18 weeks, but people can re-refer themselves or the referrer can make a repeat referral after the first period ends. This service is also available for self-referral.

Companionship calls

Recurring telephone calls for people who require more frequent connection. This support will be three calls a week over a six-week period from the same volunteer. People in need of more structured support, who would benefit from the continuity of speaking to the same person, can be referred for this service. This service is also available for self-referral.

Community response (available in some areas)

Requests can be made for volunteers to help people with collecting and delivering food shopping and essential items and/or prescriptions. This service can only be requested by a professional referrer such as a GP or other medical professional.

Pick-up and deliver 

Volunteers transport medication or small items of medical equipment, such as mobility aids, between people's homes and NHS sites. This activity supports people who have been newly discharged from hospital to home, are waiting for hospital admission or are being cared for on a virtual ward.

Other referrals could include the movement of small items of equipment between NHS sites. This service can only be requested by a professional referrer such as a GP or other medical practitioner.


Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

  • those who health practitioners and local authorities consider to be vulnerable
  • those who feel like they could benefit from receiving support (for Telephone Support services)

Exclusions

  • people with complex mental health problems
  • people who are known to be suicidal
  • people with severe cognitive impairment
  • people under the age of 18
  • referrals for those with drug addiction or alcohol dependency

How to Refer

Call the support team to make a referral

Referrals can be made by the following health and care professionals:

  • GPs/social prescribing link workers/practice nurses
  • hospital discharge teams
  • community pharmacists
  • NHS 111 and ambulance trusts
  • community health trusts that need volunteer support for patients leaving hospital
  • local authorities.

Volunteers are then matched to live, local tasks through an app on their smartphone.

The support team is available seven days a week from 9am-6pm.

NHS Volunteer Responders referrers’ portal

Referrals can be made by visiting the NHS Volunteer Responders website.

Self-referral

Members of the public can request support from volunteers, either for themselves or someone they know (with that person’s permission).

They can request a call by phoning the support team (9am-6pm, seven days a week). They can also visit the website for further information.


Service Feedback


Downloads



Review date: Tuesday, 10 March 2026