In the community

Fundraising volunteers are vital to make the work we do possible.

Row of people wearing white charity t-shirts and holding blue plastic buckets stood at a football ground

Volunteers at a bucket collection

Francis House surrounds seriously ill children and their families with love and life…helping them live every moment to the full, embracing joy and happiness and be themselves in a warm and welcoming home from home.

Why do we need volunteers?

Our volunteers are very important to us and make a big difference by:

  • Bringing knowledge, life skills and ideas
  • Providing a presence in the local communities that we serve
  • Performing tasks that enable us to save money, allowing us to spend more on services that support families
  • Helping us to raise vital funds and contributing towards the £15,900 we need everyday!

We are also looking for people to join, or start local fundraising groups. If you have time to spare and would like to find out more contact our fundraising office on 0161 443 2200.

Get in touch
Three women volunteers at a charity tombola stall
Three people wearing hi-vis vest holding leaflets volunteering at Bramhall duck race.
Three women wearing white t-shirts holding blue charity collection buckets and wearing party headwear
Three people wearing Francis House t-shirts stood holding buckets in a supermarket next to a large mouse mascot
Ladies from the Cheshire volunteer committee
Two women wearing white t-shirts with a rainbow logo stood in a supermarket holding charity collection buckets
A group of three men holding flags stood on the top of a hill
Group of women with boxes of knitted chicks
 
Three women volunteers at a charity tombola stall
Three people wearing hi-vis vest holding leaflets volunteering at Bramhall duck race.
Three women wearing white t-shirts holding blue charity collection buckets and wearing party headwear
Three people wearing Francis House t-shirts stood holding buckets in a supermarket next to a large mouse mascot
Ladies from the Cheshire volunteer committee
Two women wearing white t-shirts with a rainbow logo stood in a supermarket holding charity collection buckets
A group of three men holding flags stood on the top of a hill
Group of women with boxes of knitted chicks

Current vacancies include:

Bucket Collections (Dates and times flexible)
Various bucket collections at supermarkets around Greater Manchester.

Easter Chick Appeal
Volunteer drivers required to deliver our chicks to local schools and businesses.

Francis House Open Day – 27th April 2026 (10am – 4pm)
Two volunteers required to serve refreshments to visitors.

Great Manchester Run Cheering Squad – May 2026 (Various times between 9am – 2pm)
Volunteers required to wear Francis House T-shirts, hold banners and cheer on our 100 plus runners along the 10k and half marathon course.

Didsbury Festival June 2026 (10am – 5pm)
Two people at a time required to set up and run a stall in Didsbury Park selling merchandise plus a raffle or tombola.  Hours flexible and we can work on a shift rota.

Festival of Christmas Trees – October 2026
Group of 8 people to put up around 40 artificial Christmas trees with lights at Quayside MediaCityUK.

Francis House Open Day – November TBC 2026 (10am – 4pm)
Two volunteers required to serve refreshments to the visitors. One volunteer to sell Christmas cards and merchandise.

Festival of Christmas Trees Pop Up Shop – November to December 2026 (11am – 3pm)
Volunteers required to work a shift in our festive pop-up shop at Quayside MediaCityUK.

Christmas Tree Collection (January 2027)
Drivers (with or without vans) to collect used Christmas trees from the Greater Manchester area and deliver them to Wythenshawe Park for chipping. Volunteers are also required to help chip the trees. This is an ideal opportunity for a corporate group as we need up to 10 volunteers every day over 4 days.

Want to volunteer your time to help fundraise?

Speak to our friendly team on 0161 443 2200 or fundraising@francishouse.org.uk

Collection box volunteers

Blue charity collection tinsOur collection boxes can be found out in the community and provide us with a valuable source of income. A Francis House collection box on the counter of a shop or pub demonstrates that the business and public are supporting our Hospice and that means a lot to us!

Volunteers look after a number of the charity boxes on our behalf and we need reliable supporters to help us manage their drop-off and collection. We have boxes in almost 100 different locations from Oldham to Altrincham, Uppermill to Urmston, Rochdale to Romiley and all around Greater Manchester.

The generosity of many people means that the boxes need swapping every 3 or 6 months. If you can help in any way please get in touch, equally if you have a suggestion for a new location we would love to hear it!

Call the fundraising office on call 0161 443 2200 or contact fundraising@francishouse.org.uk

"It was always my aim when I finished work that I would do some volunteering because I didn’t want to be sat around doing nothing."

Cheryl Thompson

What can you get from volunteering?

As well as helping us to continue to support the families in greatest need, you will:

  • Meet new people and be part of an enthusiastic team
  • Learn or develop new skills
  • Spend your time doing something worthwhile and gain a sense of achievement
  • Enhance the prospect of getting a job
  • Gain experience from working with our fundraising team
  • Help raise money to make a real difference to children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
Line of people wearing hi-vis jackets stood infront of a white van containing Christmas trees

Volunteers help out with Christmas tree recycling

Volunteer stories

Woman wearing a black cardigan holding a knitted bunny and opening parcels of knitted items in an office

Cheryl's volunteering tips

Woman with grey hair stood holding a blue charity collection bucket and a glass award trophy stood outside a large store with the words Homebase over the entrance

Ann's bucketload of support