Support Volunteer

Home / About us / Join our team / Volunteering with us / Support Volunteer

Our Support Volunteers play a very special role, offering practical and emotional support to adults and their loved ones at all stages of their cancer journey. They listen with empathy and without judgement, while always maintaining client confidentiality.

Wessex Cancer Support has local cancer support centres, which offer safe and welcoming space for people affected by cancer to access non-clinical support. This includes counselling, complementary therapy, listening and signposting, information and compassionate support from trained volunteers.

Training to be a Support Volunteer

As a Support Volunteer, you will receive compulsory training in listening and responsive communication skills, alongside ongoing support and supervision. You will be an active part of our cancer support teams in our cancer support centres. You will be there for anyone with direct experience of cancer, who has been bereaved, or who is supporting a loved one with a cancer diagnosis. You can choose to volunteer for one morning or afternoon a week, or offer more time if you’re able to.

Role description for a Support Volunteer at Wessex Cancer Support

Being a Support Volunteer is both a rewarding and community-driven opportunity.
The role of a Support Volunteer will include:

Listening to our clients and their stories, helping them to feel welcome to our cancer support centres. We will support you to develop the skills you require for this role.

Provide a safe and confidential space for clients and caregivers to express their feelings, fears, and frustrations. Actively listen and offer empathy without giving advice.

Familiarise yourself with and share information about our organisation’s services and other community resources with clients. You will not be expected to be an expert, but to know where to find the right information.

Participate and guide clients to be involved in our centre-based support activities. This can include being part of our walking groups, or our drop-in sessions.

Support in maintaining simple, confidential records of your interactions and activities as required by Wessex Cancer Support.

Whether it’s outreaching to local community groups, or help to distribute materials to local hospitals, you will be part of representing and promoting Wessex Cancer Support.

Helping with the practical running of our cancer support centres, which will include, but not limited to duties such as cleaning, tidying, making tea and coffee, washing up, etc. to help create a clean, welcoming and safe space for clients.

Personal attributes needed to become a Support Volunteer

Support volunteering is a rewarding and meaningful role. We’re not looking for formal qualifications, what matters most is who you are, how you connect with people and the qualities you bring. We’re looking for people who have:

You don’t need to have direct experience of cancer yourself, what matters is being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to understand their feelings and to show genuine care. Compassion allows you to provide comfort and reassurance at a time when it’s most needed.

A warm smile, a kind word or simply being there can make a huge difference. We’re looking for volunteers who can put people at ease and bring a positive, supportive presence to conversations and interactions.

People may share very personal thoughts and feelings with you. It’s essential that you can be trusted to respect their privacy and handle information with sensitivity, following our confidentiality guidelines at all times.

As a volunteer, your role is to offer emotional and practical support, not to take on responsibility for solving every problem. Being able to maintain healthy boundaries ensures that both you and the individuals you support remain safe and well.

Sometimes the most valuable support is simply listening without judgement. Good listeners show patience, give people space to talk and respond thoughtfully. Training and support will be provided to help you feel confident in this skill.

You’ll be part of a supportive volunteer community, working alongside staff and other volunteers. Being willing to share experiences, support colleagues, and contribute to a positive team spirit will make your volunteering even more rewarding.

Above all, we’re looking for people who care, who can listen, and who want to make a difference. If you recognise these qualities in yourself, we’d love to welcome you as a Support Volunteer.