Heath charity to offer Duke of Edinburgh's Award opportunities
A healthcare charity is offering young people the chance to do volunteer work for the NHS as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award scheme.
Bright Northumbria Healthcare Charity has become an approved activity provider for the scheme – giving participants the opportunity to complete the volunteering section of their award through placements in Northumberland and North Tyneside
The aim is for volunteers to bring comfort and companionship to patients while developing valuable skills and experience.
The opportunities are available to young people completing their bronze, silver or gold award and provide meaningful ways to support patients, visitors and staff across Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Opportunities include volunteering in Bright’s hospital shops, meeting and greeting patients and visitors, and acting as patient befrienders on wards.
Through volunteering with Bright, young people can gain valuable communication, teamwork and customer service skills while building confidence and making a positive difference in their local communities.
To achieve their DofE Award, young people aged 14 to 24 take part in activities across four sections – volunteering, physical, skills and expedition.
A record-breaking 1.6 million young people started their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award between April 2021 and March 2026, contributing 21 million hours of volunteer work – estimated to be worth over £130m to the national economy.
Sophie Keaveney, senior operations manager at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award charity, said: “We are delighted that Bright Northumbria Healthcare Charity is now an approved activity provider for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
"These opportunities support and enable young people to make a positive impact on themselves, others and the community.”
Karen Streener, grants, delivery and impact manager at Bright Northumbria, said: “We’re delighted to become an approved activity provider for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
"Our volunteers already play a hugely important role in helping us create positive experiences for patients, visitors and staff across Northumbria Healthcare and we are incredibly proud to offer young people the opportunity to complete their DofE
volunteering with us while gaining valuable skills, confidence and experience that will benefit them long into the future.
"We look forward to welcoming even more young volunteers to Team Bright.”
Bright Northumbria is a registered charity which was formed in 1998.