Make a difference in your community 

By volunteering with Healthwatch County Durham, you can develop new skills, gain valuable experience and make a real difference in your community.

Why volunteer with us?

  • Make a difference: Help people in your community have their say on health and social care.
  • Build connections: Meet new people and become part of the Healthwatch County Durham team.
  • Boost your CV: Develop valuable skills and gain confidence that will benefit you in the workplace.
  • Use your skills: Contribute your talents to the success of Healthwatch across County Durham.

We have a variety of volunteering opportunities available and we’d love to hear from you. To get involved, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator:

Office: 0191 9169806
Mobile: 07761 205660
Email: claire@healthwatchcountydurham.co.uk

Our volunteering roles

Community Engagement Volunteer

Help make health and social care services better in your area.

What you’ll do:

  • Talk to local people about their experiences with health and social care.
  • Gather feedback through surveys, events and conversations.
  • Signpost people to relevant services when needed.
  • Support the Healthwatch team to ensure feedback drives positive change.

Enter and View Representative

Visit health and social care services and help improve care through direct feedback.

What you’ll do:

  • Visit care homes, GP surgeries, hospitals, and other care facilities.
  • Observe how services operate and speak with staff, residents, patients and families.
  • Gather and record feedback to support improvement reports.
  • Highlight excellent practices and identify areas needing attention.

Healthwatcher

Support Healthwatch County Durham by helping us reach local people and gather feedback.

What you’ll do:

  • Distribute publicity leaflets and promote Healthwatch locally.
  • Encourage members of the public to complete comment cards.
  • Collect and return feedback cards to the Healthwatch team and request new ones as needed.  

"I chose to volunteer with Healthwatch specifically so that we have a chance to complement or suggest how to improve services, in the NHS and care. I think the work carried out by Healthwatch through volunteers and staff has made a difference to a lot of people and services"

Paul Stokes (Healthwatch County Durham volunteer)