Our vision, mission and values

Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting thousands of people each month in hospitals and in the community.

The simple acts of kindness volunteers provide, from setting up a regular lunch club to running chair-based exercises on hospital wards, help make communities stronger and relieve the pressure on overstretched public services.

The charity is also one of the largest retailers in the NHS, with its network of cafés and shops providing a valued haven in hospitals.

All our volunteers are supported by our skilled staff team, and together you make an extraordinary impact. Our real strength is our people who have made a positive choice to help others in their communities all over the country.

Royal Voluntary Service remains motivated by and committed to the charity’s unique philosophy of volunteering, giving the benefit of around 500,000 working days a year to communities up and down Britain.

Our vision – the kind of Britain we want to see

People across Britain are engaged in voluntary service – freely giving their time, talent and life experience to help tackle pressing challenges in diverse communities. Their service makes them, and Britain, healthier and happier.

Our mission – our role in achieving this vision

Inspiring and enabling people to give the gift of voluntary service to meet the needs of the day in their communities.

Needs of the day

1. To inspire, mobilise and support others to enable voluntary action.
2. Working with the NHS, wider health and care systems, and communities to minimise health inequality and social disadvantage, helping those affected to thrive.