Get Involved
With Us
There are many ways to get involved with Healthwatch Doncaster — from volunteering your time and visiting local services, to representing your community as a champion. Whatever your availability, there’s a role for you.
Volunteer With Healthwatch Doncaster
Why Volunteer With Us?
Volunteering with Healthwatch Doncaster is a rewarding way to give something back to your community. You don’t need a background in health or care — we welcome people from all walks of life, and we provide full training and ongoing support for every role.
Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. From talking to residents at community events to visiting local health services, they help us gather the evidence that drives real improvements for people in Doncaster.
Current Volunteering Roles
Enter & View Representative
Spaces AvailableCarry out authorised visits to health and social care services in Doncaster and produce reports that hold providers to account. Full authorisation training provided.
Community Engagement Volunteer
Spaces AvailableAttend community events and drop-in sessions across Doncaster, talking to residents about their experiences and helping us reach seldom-heard groups.
Community Champion
Spaces AvailableBe the local link between your neighbourhood and Healthwatch — sharing information, gathering views and helping ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
Research & Engagement Volunteer
Limited SpacesSupport our team in designing and carrying out research projects — from helping run focus groups to analysing survey responses and contributing to reports.
Ways to Get Involved
Volunteer, join our Enter & View programme, or become a Community Champion — choose the path that suits you.
Become a Volunteer
Join our team of dedicated volunteers and play an active role in improving health and care services in Doncaster. Roles suit all backgrounds and availability.
Find out more →Enter & View Visits
As an authorised Enter & View representative, you’ll visit health and care settings to observe and report on the quality of care — making a real difference to vulnerable residents.
Find out more →Community Champion
Be a local voice for health and care in your neighbourhood. Community Champions help us reach people we might otherwise miss, and act as a trusted link between their community and Healthwatch.
Find out more →The Enter & View Programme
Our Enter & View representatives carry out authorised visits to health and care settings — providing an independent assessment of the quality of care provided.
How a Visit Works
Service is Selected
Our team identifies a health or social care setting for a visit — either proactively or following concerns raised by members of the public.
Notice Given to Provider
We notify the service in advance (announced visits) or may arrive unannounced where concerns suggest that would be more appropriate.
Volunteers Carry Out the Visit
Trained Enter & View representatives observe the environment, talk to staff and patients or residents, and gather evidence of what life is like for the people using the service.
Report Published & Shared
We write a formal report with our findings and recommendations. The provider receives the report first and has the opportunity to respond before we publish it publicly.
Follow-Up & Impact Tracked
We follow up with providers to check that recommended improvements have been made, and report back to the public on what has changed as a result.
What is Enter & View?
Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Healthwatch has the legal power to carry out Enter & View visits to any publicly funded health or social care premises in England. This includes GP surgeries, hospitals, care homes, dental practices and community services.
It’s a powerful tool that puts the patient and service user experience at the centre — and our volunteers are the people who make it happen.
What We Look For on Visits
Become a Community Champion
Community Champions are local people who act as a bridge between their neighbourhood and Healthwatch Doncaster — helping us reach people we might otherwise miss.
Minimum Time Commitment
Champions can give as little as one hour per month — sharing information, gathering views and flagging issues in their local area.
Experience Required
You just need to care about your community and be willing to listen and share. We provide everything else — full support, resources and training.
Flexible & Remote Friendly
You can champion your community entirely online, in person at local events, or a mixture of both — completely on your own terms.
Ready to Become a Community Champion?
We’re looking for passionate people across all of Doncaster’s communities — including Bessacarr, Bentley, Conisbrough, Edlington, Mexborough, Rossington, Stainforth and beyond. If you care about health and care in your area, we want to hear from you.
Getting Involved — FAQ
Everything you need to know before getting started. Can’t find an answer? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
Do I need any qualifications or experience to volunteer?
No qualifications or previous experience are needed to volunteer with Healthwatch Doncaster. We welcome people from all backgrounds. Full training is provided for every role, and you’ll always have the support of our team throughout.
How much time do I need to commit as a volunteer?
It depends on the role. Community Champions can give as little as one hour per month. Community Engagement Volunteers typically give a few hours per month attending events. Enter & View Representatives may give half or a full day for a visit, but these don’t happen every month. We’ll always discuss time commitment with you before you start.
Will I be reimbursed for travel and other expenses?
Yes. We reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred while volunteering with us, including travel costs. We’ll explain exactly how this works during your induction.
Do I need a DBS check to volunteer?
Some roles — particularly Enter & View — do require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. We arrange and fund this for all relevant volunteers. Not all roles require one, and we’ll let you know at the application stage what’s needed for the role you’re interested in.
Can I volunteer if I’m currently using health or care services myself?
Absolutely. In fact, your lived experience of health and care services makes you an invaluable volunteer. We only ask that you’re able to approach your volunteering with objectivity, which we support you to do through our training programme.
How do I apply to volunteer?
Simply complete our online volunteer application form, or get in touch by phone or email if you’d prefer to have a conversation first. We’ll then arrange an informal chat to find out more about you and discuss which role might be the best fit.
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you want to volunteer, join Enter & View, or become a Community Champion — we’d love to hear from you. Every contribution makes a difference.