Volunteer
You Can Make Every Moment Matter for Our Patients Too
Our dedicated volunteers are the heart of our mission, turning compassion into action, supporting our patients and their families. Every selfless act of giving — a smile, a song, a steady hand — becomes part of the care that surrounds them.
Our Volunteering Groups
Every volunteer brings something unique. With our groups supporting different aspects of palliative care, there’s a place for every heart at Dover Park Hospice.
Day Care
Volunteers will help facilitate and support a range of patient activities, including adapted games, craft sessions, and horticultural activities.
Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm / 1pm-3pm
Diamond
A Malay-speaking group that celebrates patients’ birthdays and festive occasions, including Hari Raya celebrations.
1st Saturday of the month, 2pm-5pm
Emerald
Organises weekly excursions for patients to local attractions, helping them reconnect with life beyond the hospice.
Every Thursday, 8:30am-1pm
Jade
A Chinese-speaking group that hosts festive celebrations such as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival for patients.
Festive Celebrations: On selected Saturdays
Inpatient befriending: Daily, 8am-6pm
Lapis Lazuli
Volunteers who befriend patients, provide refreshments during Happy Hour, offer music entertainment and assist administratively.
Inpatient befriending: Daily, 8am-6pm
Upon activation (outreach activities)
Opal
Professionally trained masseuses who provide therapeutic massages to ease pain, relieve tension, and bring comfort to patients.
Every Saturday, 2:30pm-4:30pm
Project Lim Kopi
Serves traditional toast, coffee or tea, and dim sum to inpatients and Day Care clients, and provides opportunities to befriend and socialize with patients.
Every Friday, 9am-11am
Ruby
Volunteers who bring their trained pets to interact with patients as part of the Pets-assisted Activity Programme, spreading warmth and joy to patients.
Physical Visit: 1st Saturday of the month, 9am-11am
Tele-visit: 3rd Saturday of the month, 9am-11am
Sapphire
Volunteers who befriend patients, provide refreshments during Happy Hour, offer music entertainment, and assist administratively.
Inpatient befriending: Daily, 8am-6pm
Soka Gakkai
Since 2005, Soka Gakkai volunteers have been befriending patients and preparing drinks and toasts for them on a fortnightly basis.
2nd Sunday of the month, 10am-12pm
Tanzanite
Student befrienders from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (Nanyang Technological University) who befriend and support patients.
Inpatient befriending: Daily, 8am-6pm
Homecare Bag Check: Every Wednesday, 9:30am-12pm
Upon activation (medical escort and admin tasks)
Turquoise
Volunteers who participate in home care services such as befriending, medical escorting, and outings, bringing comfort to patients at home. Additional training will be provided.
Upon activation (medical escort and admin tasks)
Vigil Programme
Sits vigil with inpatients who are actively dying. Additional training will be provided.
Upon Activation
Amethyst
A singing group that performs for our patients in the ward by Charis Methodist Church members.
Bimonthly on a Saturday, 11am-12pm
Aquamarine
Volunteer performers who bring music and joy to patients through ukulele performances by Newton Neighbourhood Committee.
1st Saturday of the month, 2pm-4pm
GEMS
A singing group that performs for our patients in the ward.
3rd Saturday of the month, 11am-12pm
Happy Hour
A weekly volunteer-led activity where beverages and light snacks are offered to inpatients, their families and caregivers, as well as staff.
Every Monday, 3pm-5pm
Sunstone
Volunteers who offer hairdressing and grooming services, helping patients look their best.
Inpatient: Every Tuesday except last week of the month, 9am-11am.
Day Care: Alternate last Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am-11am
Volunteers assist in a variety of activities, including assisting with mailers, linen management, driving errands, art work design, photography, fundraising-related activities, gardening, preparing home-cooked soup for patients, collecting special meals for patients, etc.
Administrative Group
Volunteers who support the packing of mailers, administrative filing, making calls to supporters, patients, and caregivers, as well as editorial, design and translation work.
Admin filing: Once every 3 months, Wednesday, 10am-2pm
Homecare Bag Check: Every Wednesday, 9:30am-12pm
Upon Activation (other tasks)
Crystal
A handicraft group that creates art and craft pieces to raise funds for Dover Park Hospice.
Ad-hoc on Saturdays, 2pm-5pm
Inventory Management
Assist the nursing team with linen management, replenishing beverages for caregivers and end-of-month inventory check.
Every Friday, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Operations Group
Volunteers who assist with van driving, logistics support, inventory management, photography, videography and training administrative support.
Van driving: Every Friday, 10am-12pm (ad-hoc request)
Inventory Management: Every Friday, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Upon Activation (other tasks)
Pearl
Volunteers who prepare nourishing home-cooked soups for patients, offering care through every bowl.
3rd Wednesday of the month, 11am-12pm
Topaz
A gardening group that maintains and beautifies the hospice’s green spaces, creating a soothing environment for all.
Daily, 8am-8pm
Weekly Food Collection
Support the weekly collection and delivery of food supplies, ensuring timely pickup, safe transport, and smooth handover to the nursing team.
Every Friday, 10am-12pm
Garnet
Volunteer ambassadors who support Dover Park Hospice’s public awareness and outreach campaigns. Additional training will be provided.
Upon activation (outreach activities)
Volunteer Application and Onboarding Process
Step 01
Register interest through the e-application form
Step 02
Ensure you can meet our volunteer criteria and attend our Zoom sharing – “Introduction to Volunteering at Dover Park Hospice”
Step 03
2-week reflection period for applicant to make an informed choice
Step 04
Attend volunteer interview
Step 05
Undergo necessary training depending on the type of volunteering
Step 06
Begin volunteering
*Please see our FAQ below for more information on volunteer requirements.
Complete the e-application form below. Please ensure you can meet our basic criteria before signing up.
Thank you for choosing to help us make every moment matter.
For any queries, click on the button below to submit your enquiry on Volunteering Opportunities:
Hear From Our Dedicated Volunteers
Each of our volunteers gives a part of themselves — time and care — to help patients live with dignity and families find strength. They are the heart that sustains our care.
Their stories are woven into ours, showing how compassion transforms both the patient and the caregiver. Together, their acts of service remind us that in every shared moment, life continues to be celebrated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Becoming a Volunteer
Applicants must meet our six basic criteria (listed below) and complete the required sharing and training sessions, based on the type of volunteering. Applicants must be proficient in English for training purposes.
- Commitment: Minimally 2 years, with at least 40 service hours per year
- Training: To complete all required sessions before the start of volunteering
- Interview: Be willing to undergo an interview to assess suitability
- Protocols: Adhere to healthcare standards (e.g. hand hygiene, safety practices)
- Age: 17 years and above
- Secular Environment: Maintain a secular environment; no religious sharing unless requested by patients
To ensure sustainability and continuity of our volunteer programme, we require volunteers who can commit regularly for a minimum of two years from the time they complete their training and clock 40 volunteering hours per year.
We have three training cycles per year, with specific cut-off dates. All applicants must complete the volunteer application and onboarding process before beginning their volunteer duties.
Onboarding & Training
Introductory sharing sessions are held three times a year on weekday evenings. Attendance is mandatory for all applicants to help them make an informed decision about volunteering in a hospice setting. They are conducted using the Zoom platform.
Volunteer Commitment & Scheduling
Yes. Volunteers can choose from regularly scheduled activities on different days of the week. Volunteers are expected to complete 40 hours within a year from completing training. We strongly encourage you to consider your availability before committing, and your specific volunteer schedule will be discussed during the in-person interview.
The Volunteer Programme Team will assess your situation and may suggest alternative activities, or advise reapplying when you can commit fully.
Professional Boundaries & Conduct
For patient-facing roles, volunteers must wear the official volunteer t-shirt with appropriate bottoms, covered shoes, and the Volunteer ID Pass at all times. For administrative tasks, non-revealing home clothes with appropriate footwear are permitted. Security reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone without the Volunteer ID Pass.
Professional volunteers (e.g., nurses, pharmacists, doctors, etc.) are welcome and managed by the respective departments to coordinate their participation. A simple CV will be required for the Head of Department (HOD) to assess suitability.
Yes. Certain volunteer jobs, such as haircutting or van driving, require the appropriate certification or license. We do not provide training for these skills, and any certification or course costs are the responsibility of the applicant.
Personal Health & Illness
Vaccinations for MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) are strongly recommended, in line with Ministry of Health guidelines.