Macmillan Beyond Diagnosis Emotional Support Volunteer

To listen and talk to people affected by cancer and provide them with a supportive professional friendship. This can help to lesson isolation, increase confidence and provide reassurance at a difficult time. This support may include a listening ear, helping them to engage in community or social activities or connect with family, friends and neighbours, encouragement to improve mental and physical health or seek alternative support or time to talk about whatever they feel like talking about.
This role may take place over a telephone conversation, online for example via Zoom, Facetime and Whatsapp or during a visit and is generally a regular commitment of about once a week for 3-6 months.
We will ensure you are supported throughout your volunteering journey and provide:
• Full and comprehensive volunteer induction training
• Ongoing training with Self Help UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and our partnership organisations
• Regular supervision sessions with a designated role manager
• Regular Peer Support sessions
• Monthly Volunteer Newsletters to keep you up to date with all of our latest Volunteer News
• Twice Yearly Volunteer Events – an opportunity to meet other volunteers and staff and to celebrate our achievements
• Health Assured – Employee & Volunteer Assistance Programme available online, by telephone and on an app.
• Macmillan Cancer Support – a counselling service available free of charge for all volunteers
• Employee references for volunteers seeking employment
Any out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed for training or volunteering including travel:
- mileage costs @ 45p per mile
- public transport costs
The Benefits of volunteering:
- The satisfaction of helping people affected by cancer
- Get more involved in and making a real difference to your local community.
- Support a local charity to improve their service
- Develop new skills, or evidence how you can use the ones you have!
To volunteer within this role you will need to:
• Come for a chat/interview
• Complete a Volunteer Induction Training session (1 day training)
• Complete an enhanced DBS
• Provide two referees
• Participate in a minimum of two Peer Support sessions per year (2 hours per session – sessions are arranged at various times including weekends and evenings)


If you are able to offer more practical support to the person you are building a relationship with, e.g. accompanying to appointments, helping with occasional household tasks, teaching new skills etc. then this is also beneficial but this element of the role could also be undertaken by a different volunteer on a one off or short term basis.