Wish Maker (Derian House)

More than 60,000 children in the UK have been diagnosed with a critical condition, changing their lives and the lives of their families forever. For them, the joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end, with treatment, hospital appointments and sleepless nights taking over. The power of a wish revives a childhood stolen by critical illness. It brings light and joy to children and their loved ones and leaves a profound and lasting impact on all their lives. But we can’t be that light for everyone. It takes an army of volunteers like you to help these children feel like children again. Together, we have the power to #LightUpTheDarkness.

What will I be doing?

As a Wish Maker, you will be part of a team of volunteers who will capture wishes for critically ill children as part of a wish discovery. The wish discovery is the start of a child's journey and you will be involved by meeting children virtually and helping them to unlock their wildest imagination to create their wish story. You will be led by our wishgranting and wish referrals team.

How will I be supported?

You will be supported by our wish referrals team. There will also be opportunities to share best practice and receive support from your peers as well as relevant support from other members of the volunteering and wishgranting team and our Safeguarding Lead. We will ensure you have the training and tools required to deliver your role.

You will also need to have a Basic DBS completed before you can undertake any wish discoveries. The Community & Volunteering Team at Make-A-Wish UK, will support and process this for you.

How much time will I need to commit?

The amount of time commitment will vary depending on the wishes requested in your community and the needs of your team. Flexibility is key as the wish discovery needs to be conducted at a time convenient to the family. Our ambition is to be able to grant wishes for more children and so whilst the number of wish requests may vary, we hope you will be able to conduct wish discoveries on a regular basis. Wish discovery visits can take anything from 30 minutes to two hours, and outside of this you will need to allow time for arranging, planning and writing up the visit.

Where will I be based?

You will be able to deliver this role from home and within your own community. There will be the opportunity to attend regular catch-ups, meetings and training within your community hub and/or with your Community Leader (these may be delivered virtually or in person) to ensure you are supported in your role and equipped to deliver the wishes you are granting.

How do I find out more?

If this sounds like you, why not submit an application, or if you have questions about being part of a magical, inspiring and inclusive team please contact our Volunteering Team on volunteering@makeawish.org.uk.