Residential Volunteering Opportunities for Nurses & Carers
Free accommodation for nurses and carers volunteering at our hospice in West Wales — a clinical environment with the time and space to care well.
We are a volunteer-led hospice with a clear way of working: unhurried, attentive care that prioritises time, presence, and thoughtful response to people’s needs.
Our team is a mix of paid colleagues and clinicians who give their time freely — all working to shared standards and values, in a calm and well-organised clinical environment with the space to think, to listen, and to respond with care and attention.
Our most recent inspection by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales — published in April 2026 — described the care here as “kind, dignified and person-centred.” All 55 of our team members surveyed by the regulator recommended the hospice as a good place to work or volunteer. Read more about what HIW found.
How residential volunteering works
Our inpatient respite service runs for a full week once a month, from Tuesday to Monday. You can volunteer for the whole week or just part of it, whichever fits around your other commitments.
If any of this speaks to you, we’d like to make it as easy as possible for you to be here. As a residential volunteer, you’ll have free accommodation at our nearby guesthouse, travel expenses and freshly laundered uniforms.
YOUR ACCOMMODATION
You’ll stay at Skanda Hafan, our comfortable guesthouse set in the quiet of the West Wales countryside, in your own en-suite room with WiFi and desk space. Lunch is provided at the hospice each day, and we provide travel expenses.
Some of our clinical volunteers choose instead to stay at Skanda Vale Ashram, the multi-faith monastic community that founded the hospice. It’s a working monastery with its own rhythm — daily temple services, communal meals, a vegetarian diet, and a pace of life built around service and reflection. It’s not for everyone, but for those it suits, it can be a meaningful part of the experience.
Your commitment
The kind of care we offer only works when the people giving it are present often enough to truly know our patients and each other. That’s why we ask for a genuine commitment from every clinical volunteer.
- A minimum of twelve shifts per year, after completing your initial training. That’s enough to become a familiar, trusted presence — not a visitor.
- Shifts in blocks of two or more days within the same week. Working consecutive days is how you build relationships with patients and find your rhythm within the team.
- No more than three months between visits. Longer gaps mean what you’ve learned starts to fade, and you effectively need to start again — which isn’t fair on you, the team, or our patients.
In return, you become part of something that our volunteers consistently describe as unlike anything else in their clinical careers.
From application to first shift
After you get in touch, we’ll arrange a phone call to talk things through, followed by an interview. If we’re a good fit for each other, we follow up with references and a DBS check, then invite you to an induction day. Initial training takes six full days, three of them in person. We’ll match you to the next available date, and your first shift should follow within a month.
You’ll work alongside experienced volunteers and paid colleagues from a range of clinical and therapeutic backgrounds. It’s an unusual model — we believe we are the UK’s only volunteer-led clinical hospice — and it makes such a difference that people who come here to volunteer are here because they want to be.
Download our information pack for full details of dates, accommodation and what’s involved — or simply get in touch and we’ll talk it through.
Many of the volunteers who use this accommodation are retired nurses. Read Cate, Cathy and Jane’s three routes into volunteering with us for a sense of what their work here looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What experience do I need?
We welcome Registered General Nurses and Carers at any stage of their career. What matters most is a natural warmth and compassion, and a genuine dedication to person-centred care. We’ll provide full induction and training to help you feel confident in your role and in the culture of the hospice.
Is there flexibility with the dates?
Our respite weeks are always scheduled a year in advance, so you can plan well ahead. We’ll share the full calendar and ask you to let us know which weeks or weekends work for you.
What training is provided?
Initial training takes six full days, three of them in person. We can transfer any relevant, in-date certificates, but some training is specific to Skanda Vale Hospice and all residential volunteers attend those sessions. Shadow shifts are part of the process too.
Do I need my own transport?
Yes. The hospice is in a rural area, a 25-minute drive from the accommodation, and public transport isn’t available. You’ll need to be able to travel independently.
Do you accept volunteers from overseas?
Volunteers need to already be eligible to volunteer in the UK for the full duration of their intended stay with us. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship to overseas volunteers.
Considering a longer residential stay?
For those drawn to a more immersive experience, we offer extended residential placements, living within the Skanda Vale community and volunteering regularly at the hospice. Get in touch and we’ll tell you more.
For any questions not covered here, please contact: volunteers@skandavalehospice.org
YOUR STEPS TO JOINING OUR TEAM
Choose how to submit your application:
- Option 1: Complete and submit the online form below.
- Option 2: Download and email the form to: volunteers@skandavalehospice.org
- Option 3: Download print and post the form to: People Team, Skanda Vale Hospice, Saron, Llandysul, SA44 5DY.
One of our team will be in touch to talk through the details.
Come and meet us for a friendly conversation / interview to ensure we’re a good fit for one another.
After we’ve run our checks we’ll invite you to an Induction Day and welcome you into the team!
Register your Interest:
Register your interest
Nicky Gilbert, our Recruitment Lead, reads every enquiry and will be in touch within a few working days.
An information pack with full details of accommodation, dates, meals, and specific requirements will be sent to you after you register your interest.
