Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice supports children with life-shortening conditions and their families across West Yorkshire.

We’re here for any family confronted with the news their child has a life-shortening condition, however, wherever and whenever they need us. By providing superb nursing care, hydrotherapy, creative therapy, days out, memory making, end of life care, bereavement support and counselling, Forget Me Not helps families make the most of every moment they have together.

We need to raise over £4 million a year to keep doing what we do – and with less than 6% of that coming from the government, we rely on our local community to help us continue to be here for the children and families who need us.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates us as ‘outstanding’. This puts us in the top 1% of all of the organisations they inspect.

Role Purpose

To design and create high‑quality, visually impressive and immersive resources for family activity days and events. These resources will help transform spaces into magical environments that inspire wonder, imagination and joy for children receiving palliative care, as well as families receiving bereavement support.

By using advanced creative skills similar to those used in theatre, pantomime or professional craft settings, volunteers in this role will help ensure events are memorable, meaningful and emotionally uplifting.

What you'll be doing

Depending on your interests and skills, you may be involved in:

🎭 Creative Props & Set Pieces

• Designing and making large decorative props for themed events
• Building and painting props using cardboard, wood or similar materials
• Creating high-impact visual pieces that transform a space
• Helping bring event themes to life (e.g. storybook, fantasy, seasonal or adventure themes)

🎨 Story & Activity Resources

• Creating story sack resources, such as:
  • Painted character rocks or spoons
  • Sensory and tactile items
  • Visual storytelling props designed for children of different ages and abilities

👗 Costumes & Character Design

• Designing and sewing high-quality costumes for volunteers to wear at events
• Creating outfits that support interactive characters, storytelling and imaginative play to enhance children’s immersion

🌟 Creative Collaboration

• Working alongside staff and other volunteers to develop ideas
• Highlighting any opportunities to connect with local businesses and organisations who could help provide resources and tools to facilitate cost effective creations

Skills

• Strong practical creative skills (e.g. prop‑making, painting, sewing, crafting, design)
• Ability to work to a high standard of finish and attention to detail
• Confident using tools and materials safely
• Good visual imagination and understanding of scale, colour and texture
• Comfortable completing tasks independently and managing creative projects

Do I need any experience?

Formal qualifications are not required — however, you should already be confident creating high‑quality, visually impressive items. This role is best suited to skilled creatives rather than beginners. Portfolios or examples of previous creations are preferred.

Qualities

• Creative, curious and imaginative
• Good communication skills
• Reliable, organised and trustworthy
• Warm, approachable and friendly with a willingness to take guidance
• Able to work effectively as part of a team
• Flexible and adaptable with a warm sense of humour
• Willing to continue learning and developing

Will I be able to help out at the events I help create resources for?

Absolutely! We always appreciate an extra pair of hands and we would love for our volunteers to see their ideas come to life! If you choose to attend family activities / events, you may be asked to assist with practical tasks such as setting up tables and resources and helping to tidy up at the end.

Training and Support

• Induction and role‑specific training provided, but creative skills themselves will not be trained for
• Ongoing support and guidance from the Activity Coordinator
• Opportunities to develop skills and gain experience in a children's hospice environment

Expectations

This role requires an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. Volunteers must adhere to the hospice’s safeguarding policies at all times. You will also be asked to complete e-learning as part of our mandatory training process. We also require you to:

• Use our volunteer app, 'Volunteero', to book shifts, log your gifted volunteering hours (as this also helps us apply for addition funding for the hospice), communicate with staff, and stay up to date with training and updates
• Be sensitive to the needs of children with complex medical conditions and respectful of the diversity of the families we serve, and these concepts being at the heart of everything you create
• Ensuring resources you make are durable, safe and visually engaging
• Follow hospice policies and procedures, including safeguarding, health and safety, infection control, and confidentiality

What happens next?

If you are interested in this role, please apply and a member of the team will give you a call and arrange an informal interview.

If you are successful, you will need to complete a DBS check and provide 2 satisfactory references. Before you start, you will also need to complete a series of mandatory eLearning modules.

• Application form required
• References required
• DBS (criminal record check that the organisation will organise)

• 18+

Referees need to have known you 5 years or more.