What does a voluntary occupational therapist assistant do?
Occupational therapists help people carry out everyday activities and live as independently as they can. This might involve working with someone recovering from a stroke, an older person adapting to reduced mobility, or a person managing a long term mental health condition or learning disability.
As a volunteer assistant, you support qualified occupational therapists in their work with patients and clients. The exact tasks vary depending on where you volunteer, but the aim is always the same: helping people get on with their daily lives.
You might help prepare materials for therapy sessions, accompany therapists on home visits, assist with group activities, or spend time with patients while they practise skills. Some volunteers help with administrative tasks or equipment checks. Others offer companionship and reassurance, helping to create a welcoming environment for patients.

Identifies suitable volunteer opportunities based on your skills, availability, and interests.
Try our Volunteer Role Matcher free, here on this site →Where can you volunteer?
Opportunities exist in several settings across the NHS and voluntary sector. These include:
- Hospitals, including rehabilitation wards and outpatient departments
- Community health teams that visit people in their own homes
- Day centres and social care settings
- Mental health services
- Charities working with specific groups, such as older people or those with disabilities
Availability depends on your local area. Some NHS trusts list volunteering roles on their websites, though advertised positions for occupational therapy assistants can be limited. It is worth contacting individual departments or teams directly to ask about opportunities. Local councils and charities are also worth approaching.
Most placements ask for a regular commitment, often a few hours each week. This helps build trust with staff and patients, and gives you a proper sense of the work.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Who is suited to this role?
Certain qualities make a real difference in this role. Patience matters, as progress can be slow and setbacks are common. You need to be comfortable around people who may be unwell, distressed, or living with disabilities. You do not need qualifications to volunteer.
Good communication skills are useful. You will be listening as much as talking, and you need to respect boundaries and confidentiality. Flexibility helps too, since sessions do not always go to plan.
Previous experience with disabled or vulnerable people is an advantage, though not always required. What matters most is a genuine willingness to help and an ability to stay calm under pressure.
Many volunteer roles require you to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service check before starting, particularly those involving direct contact with patients. The organisation you apply to will arrange this. You may also need to attend an induction or complete some basic training.
Why consider volunteering?
For some people, this is a first step towards a career in occupational therapy or a related health profession. Spending time alongside qualified therapists gives you a realistic view of the work and helps you decide if it suits you. It also strengthens applications for courses or paid roles.
Others volunteer simply because they find the work meaningful. Being part of a care team, even in a small way, can be satisfying. You meet people from different backgrounds and see the difference that practical support makes.
Volunteering can bring a sense of structure and purpose, especially if you are returning to work after a break or looking to re-engage with your community.
If you are interested, think about what settings appeal to you and where your skills might be useful. Then contact local NHS trusts, councils, or charities that align with your interests to find out what roles are available and how to apply.
Kind regards
I finished my studies last year and i'm now a registered OT. I have been out of work since graduating last year November due to being a mum to my son. I'm now ready to go back to work, however I want to start off with some volunteer work to gain more experience and enhance my skills as an OT before I apply for Band 5 roles.
Better understanding , which will lead me into different contexts of OT and prepare me for my course at university.
I will be pleased if you help me getting into the volunteer job.
I have experience in intermediate care, community mental health specifically looking at patients with early stage dementia, vascular, learning disabilities, neurology and orthopaedics. I have experience working as a carer in nursing homes.
I would be grateful to volunteer as an occupational therapy assistant
I am interested in Volunteering for an Occupational Therapy Assistant job can you please give me further information about this job.
I'm an occupational therapist currently pursuing her post grad in occupational therapy, would like to know if there are any volunteering opportunities! Would really like to get more hands-on experience:)
Lulu
Inwould now like ro put my OT into lonh term work. I would be grateful for voluntary or OTA work.
I have a son with Cerebral Palsy and Erbs Palsy and am constantly having to think outside the box for new ways in which to help him improve his independence skills, whilst working along side his OT.
I am in South West Wales.
I look forward to hearing from you
I'm currently looking into master courses and would love to volunteer to find out more about the role but to also give back to society. I'm in Brighton so any voluntary work there would be great. I'm driven, analytical, tenacious, optimistic and love getting results. I'm really looking forward to any opportunity you can put my way. I do work Monday to Friday so any weekend work would be brilliant. Thanks
My name is Mohamad. I have experience working as a Support worker with elderly patient, children with learning disabilities and hold an NVQ3 in health and social care (adult). I would like to pursue my study to become a qualified occupational therapist. I am looking to volunteer as an OT assistant in West London and surrounding area to increase my knowledge and skills and gain relevant experience in occupational therapy.
Thank you.
Thank you
I live in Wimbledon.
Many thanks,
Ruba Albarghouthi
I am applying to study an MSc in occupational therapy and am looking for some voluntary work experience to allow me to enhance my skills and knowledge and to broaden my awareness and understanding of the different areas of occupational therapy. Any details of how to get involved or possible locations would be great. Thank you.
I have just finished my second year at university for OT and I am currently taking a gap year. I am looking to volunteer in the Leeds and surrounding area to increase my knowledge and skills in different settings. Thank you, Amy
Many thanks, Cameron Shearer
My name is Paige and I am currently on a gap year but hoping to study occupational therapy next year at uni. I live in Southampton and am looking to gain any relevant experience and any help in this would be much appreciated!
Regards, Rohma
Im interested in volunteering in the Manchester area if there are any opportunities.
Thanks
Georgina
Thank you
I'm doing level 3 diploma in OT. I would love to hear from anyone in the bham area. I available to start asap.
Thanks
Thanks
Heidi
Would love the opportunity to volunteer, please let me know if and where I can find this, around the Worcestershire area.
Thank you!
Many thanks
I would like to volunteer as an Ota whilst studying for a level 2 in health and socialcare in the bham area please.
Bw
Heidi Angell
My name is Theresa Jude and I live in West Yorkshire Leeds. I recently graduated from a degree course Public Health and Community Well-being. I am looking for an opportunity to volunteer as an Occupational Therapy because I am looking forward to doing my master's degree in the field.
I am based in Edinburgh and I would love to get some volunteering experience as an OT. I am actually a band 5 OT but have had a long career gap.
Thank you!
Many thanks!
M.
im planning to change my career , Im 32 years and I Have been working in Hospitality Industries ,I really would like to get into this jobs.So im offering myself 4 days a week to be a volunteer , learn and study any course.
Please any information if I can not be accepted as volunteer, it would be more than appreciate
im based in Manchester,iuk.
I want to re train as an OT and am looking for Volunteer opportunities in the Hertfordshire area. Can anyone help me find them?
Many Thanks
My name is Lizeth Gomez and I am an occupational therapist graduated from Colombia. Recently I have been granted with my OT registration from the HCPC, however I am looking for opportunities to volunteer and learn about the service in the UK before applying for any jobs and before deciding to leave my current position as teaching assistant. Is there any opportunity to do this within your service or any other service in the West Midlands area?
Thank You
Lizeth Gomez
I would be grateful if i could be given the opportunity to utilise my skills.
Regards
Norma
Many Thanks
Hoppy and Julia X
I am a skills and volunteer coordinator at a supported housing project working with the homeless/rough sleepers and we are in desperate need of an occupational therapist to volunteer their services about once a week to help our residents, we are based in Manchester if there is anyone out there who needs to gain experience please get in touch.
Kind regards
Jacky
Thank you.
Thank you!
I would like to get some experience from OT . I am looking for job as an OT assistant whether it is paid or voluntary. It will help me on my further education in the University. Please email me as soon as possible.
Many thanks,
Nelab
I work as a OTA and can apply through NHS Jobs
I just came back from America. I have a bachelors degree in exercise science. I just wanted to ask, how likely am I to get a OTA job? Do I need further qualification? Please let me know. Thank you
How do you suggest I go about gaining some voluntary experience when I'm living there? Are there any clinics or hospital email addresses you could suggest I get in contact with before I arrive?
I have all medical checks required for Australian hospitals and have already completed 1000 clinical hours required for my degree.
Many thanks!
I am currently an A-level student and want to go to study occupational therapy at university but wanted to get some experience before hand. I live in Leicester.
Is there any chance that I an get the experience here?
I would love to volunteer as an OTA in order to get into my OT at masters level. I already work in the care environment but need to shadow an OT for a few days. Which hospitals in London or Essex are willing to take on OTA volunteers as it seems that not all hospitals are willing to take on volunteers to confidentiality issues etc. Thanks
Thank you !!
I am currently in my first year at university studying Occupational Therapy, I would like to get more experience, where in East Sussex can I do this?
I am looking to gain shadowing experience with an Occupational therapist based in Coventry. Is this possible? It would mean an awful lot to me to actually get up close experience in this field before committing myself to postgraduate study. I currently work Mon-Fri 9-5, would it be possible to squeeze in a couple of hours shadowing at any stage, even at weekends?
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply.
I have interest in studying occupational therapy but I'm not sure where to do it I base in London and I will prefer university in London but the only one I saw was Southbank University but they have close there application for this year so I am looking forward to do a voluntary work for now. I am about to finish my HND in health and social care management in 2 months time so please do help me if there is a place I can start the voluntary work and if there is any UNIVERSITY in London that I can apply for the course for Jan. thank you so much and your reply will be most appreciative as am in need of it . thanks once more.
Thanks a lot
I'm wanting to volunteer in occupational therapy as i have finished a psychology degree with a 2:1 and have worked with dyslexic patients before and really want to gain experience in occupational therapy. I live in London and would be grateful to find out where and how I would be able to volunteer and work towards qualifications.
Thank you and looking forward to the advice.
Elise
thank you
I am looking to volunteer as an OT assistant in London. I am looking to apply to study OT at University and would love to build up my experience.
I would appreciate it if someone could contact me with any information on this.
Many thanks
Rebecca Brown
I am interested in building my skills so that I can look towards studying as a occupational therapist. Could you please advise me whether or not there are positions of voluntary or paid working in the occupational therapy role I.e assistant etc within the Humberside and surrounding areas also how I can apply thank you
Steve Clayton
Thank You
Maxine
Many thanks
Sarah
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Look foward to hearing from you.
I have 8 years experience supporting, empowering and protecting young people. My academic background is in Health Promotion.
I am working in a respire care home with young people with additional needs. I am very interested in specialising in occupational health. I would really like the opportunity to volunteer as an occupational therapist assistant in London. This experience would give me a better insight into this career. I am available every Tuesday.
Can you forward me information about volunteering in London as an Occupational Therapist?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Marie Keeley
07450 279 309
I am graduated occupational therapist from Lithuania but I live in England, I recently received my HPC registration and I need to gain experience to find full time OT position, could I get more information about volunteering in occupational therapy?
Thank you
I am looking into completeing a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy next year, i have worked as a communication Guide for Deafblind people for the last 18 months and have a degree in Deaf Studies and Special Needs.
Working in care, i have realised i want a professional position helping and supporting vulnerable people to lead an independent life and to gain confidence.
I would love the experience of working as an occupational assistant volunteer to gain an insight into the job role.
Could you please send me more infromation about this position please.
Where is this position based? Also how can i apply?
Thankyou
Ashleigh Goldspink
I am trying to get some voluntary work in Occupational Therapy, I have no experience yet. Could you advise me who I should contact?
Thanks, Kelly
I dont think I am meant to become an occupational therapist as i dont have enough empathy when it comes to care. I am very self motivated and I like to live my life to the full as well as trying to influence others around me to do the same. As I have a degree in Architectural design and spatial desing, I would like to get involved with a specific area within OT and thats environmental adaption. I majored in disability through design at Univeristy and based my thesis on whether designers truly facilitate for disabled users. I am very passionate about creating a space thats adaptable for all users, although I know this may be difficult especially when disabilities collide with each other.
Can you please help and guide me to a point of contact or any other information about how to persue this new adventure?
Mary-Ann
Kind Regards S.Barlow
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