Volunteering Opportunity: Children and young people's counsellor with Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people through some of the toughest moments in their lives?

We’re looking for compassionate, skilled volunteers to join our counselling team and make a genuine difference to families across west Herts

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford

Start Date: 26/02/2026
End Date: 31/05/2026

Location: From your office

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons

Practical Considerations: Our buildings in St Albans and Watford are accessible for wheelchair users, but other locations such as schools and clients' homes may not be. We're very happy to talk to you about any reasonable adjustments we can make to support your volunteering.

Requirements: Relevant qualification or training, Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Requirements (additional): You will need to have a minimum of a Level 4 counselling qualification with children and young people.

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, Older People, People with a visual impairment, People with restricted mobility

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Children, Families & Family Support, End of Life, Bereavement & Hospices

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Download Full Role Description

Full Description:
At Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, we offer free, specialist support to people living with life‑limiting illness — and to the children and young people affected by a parent, sibling, or loved one’s serious illness or death.

By volunteering just a few hours each month, you’ll help ensure no young person has to navigate grief or uncertainty alone.


💛 What will you be doing?
As a Children & Young People’s Counsellor Volunteer, you’ll:

Provide Level 3 counselling (NICE guidance) for children and young people under 18
Work with clients at home, in our hospice buildings (St Albans/Watford), in schools, or online
Support young people navigating illness, bereavement, and change
Use an integrative or pluralistic approach to help children express themselves in ways that feel right for them
Manage a small caseload independently within a warm, supportive team
Attend monthly supervision and regular team meetings
Help us reach more families who otherwise may not get the support they need
Time commitment: Around 16 hours per month, usually supporting 2+ young clients at any time, with 6–12 sessions each. We ask for a minimum 6‑month commitment.


Who are we looking for?
If you:

have a Level 4 counselling qualification specifically for working with children and young people
have great listening and communication skills
are comfortable talking about illness, grief, and loss in an age‑appropriate way
can empathise while maintaining healthy boundaries
are reliable, flexible, and have basic IT skills
…we’d love to hear from you.


🌱 What’s in it for you?
Volunteering in this role is meaningful, rewarding, and professionally enriching. You’ll gain:

💬 Real-world counselling experience

Work directly with children and young people facing complex emotional challenges — ideal for newly qualified counsellors building experience or established practitioners wanting to specialise.

🌈 Support every step of the way

You’ll receive monthly supervision, a named line manager, and be part of a friendly, multidisciplinary team who truly value what volunteers bring.

🧩 Flexibility

Sessions can be in-person or virtual, and we work with you to find a pattern that suits your life.

🤝 A chance to make a lasting impact

Your support will help young people build resilience, feel heard, and find hope during incredibly difficult times.

💼 CV and personal development benefits

Great for enhancing your professional profile, developing clinical skills, and contributing to a respected hospice charity.

💸 Expenses covered

We reimburse reasonable travel costs so you’re never out of pocket.