Until March 2027, up to 28 NHS organisations can apply for a fully-funded AAP licence and application fee for their first year. As a Volunteering AAP, you’ll also benefit from:

• Branding: Access to the DofE AAP logo as a quality kite mark for your DofE activities.
• Visibility: List your activities on the Opportunity Finder to promote them to DofE participants.
• High-quality, diverse volunteers: Attract talented and motivated young people who will make a positive impact on NHS services.
• Networking: Access to a peer support network and wider AAP networking opportunities to inform good practice.
• Support and resources: 1:1 support, press-release templates, training and resources.

This offer is open to NHS organisations and associated charities across the UK who:

• are responsible for delivering NHS volunteering.
• offer a structured and meaningful volunteering programme that meets the minimum time commitments for at least one DofE Award level​.
• can safely support volunteers throughout a placement and sign off an Assessor’s report at the end.

DofE participants need to volunteer from 3 to 18 months depending on their Award level. Here are some examples of NHS volunteering opportunities that would meet DofE requirements:

• Bronze Award: A 14-year-old spends 1 hour per week remotely knitting baby hats for newborns on the maternity ward over a 6-month period.
• Silver Award: A 15-year-old spends 1 hour per week supporting hospital fundraising activities over a 6-month period.
• Silver Award: A 16-year-old spends 2 hours per fortnight as a ward navigator over a 6-month period.
• Gold Award: An 18-year-old spends 6 hours per month as a mealtime assistant over a 12-month period.

To see the range of opportunities our NHS AAPs offer, visit our Opportunity Finder.

1. Email [email protected] for more information or to get an application form.
2. Please allow 6-8 weeks for your application to be reviewed and processed.

Resources:

• NHS AAP information pack
• Activity log
• Assessor’s report
• Opportunity Finder
• Enrichment Entitlement is a “watershed moment” for young people

Best practice examples:

• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh meets young people at King’s College Hospital
• St John Ambulance
• Fundraising for St John Ambulance
• Youth volunteering in hospitals – NHS Youth Volunteering- IVAR UK
• Helping in hospitals toolkit from Nesta
• King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust PowerPoint presentation