Volunteer with Us
What volunteering may involve
The needs of each person and family are different. Depending on the circumstances, a volunteer carer may offer:
Companionship or quiet presence
Short periods of respite for a family carer
Practical assistance or errands
Reading, conversation or shared activities
Emotional support during a demanding time
Could this be right for you?
Volunteer caring may suit someone who:
Is comfortable listening without needing to fix everything
Can offer a calm, reliable and respectful presence
Is willing to reflect openly on death, dying, grief and loss
Can respect privacy, personal boundaries and different beliefs
Is prepared to complete the required training
Can communicate honestly about their availability and capacity
You do not need to have all the answers. What matters is a willingness to learn, listen and be present.
Preparing to become a volunteer carer
Amitayus provides training to help volunteers develop practical knowledge, emotional awareness and greater confidence around end-of-life care.
The current pathway has two stages:
1. Last Aid: Care for the Dying at Home
A practical and experiential course exploring end-of-life care, grief and loss, spiritual care, duty of care and after-death care.
2. Meeting Death retreat
A further non-residential retreat weekend for prospective volunteer carers, with deeper reflection on personal responses to death, dying, grief and loss.
Beginning the volunteer journey
1. Get in touch
Tell Amitayus a little about yourself and why you are interested in volunteering.
2. Have a conversation
A member of the team will speak with you about the role, the training pathway and what volunteering may involve.
3. Complete the required training
Prospective volunteer carers undertake the relevant education and reflective preparation.
4. Explore the next step
Once training is complete, Amitayus will discuss whether the role is suitable and how you may become involved.
Volunteering with care
End-of-life volunteering can be meaningful, but it can also be emotionally demanding.
Volunteers need to care for their own wellbeing, communicate when they are unavailable and recognise when a situation is beyond their role or capacity. Amitayus provides the training and organisational guidance needed to help volunteers understand their responsibilities and boundaries.
The organisation should confirm what ongoing supervision, debriefing, insurance, screening and support are currently provided before you publish more specific promises.