Volunteering

Volunteering is an individual, considered and conscious decision. When we decide and choose Santa Casa, the process starts by completing the registration form. After registering, you will be contacted to take part in a short briefing session and will then be invited to an interview, in person or online, according to your preference.

These two moments aim to give you some information about the institution, explore your interests and motivations, and find a volunteering placement within the institution that meets your expectations.

Anyone over 16 motivated to exercise their citizenship and solidarity in an active, organised way, who wants to contribute to improving the quality of life of the people Santa Casa supports.

Volunteering activities serve the people Santa Casa supports, helping to develop personal, social or educational skills, as well as their development and autonomy — whether children, young people, older adults or people with disabilities, in community contexts, in institutional residences or in hospitals.

The tasks to be carried out and the volunteer’s time availability are agreed in a meeting between the volunteer and the institution’s staff member, based on the volunteer’s motivations and interests and on the priority needs of the services. These activities may include time spent with service users, study support, artistic expression activities, IT support and help with using digital platforms, crafts, leading physical or emotional well-being activities, helping with socio-educational activities, etc.

One-off volunteering: One-off volunteering allows you to take part in events, campaigns or community initiatives organised by Santa Casa during set periods, normally short. It is a way of getting to know volunteering and Santa Casa and taking part in actions with social impact.

Yes. Santa Casa values the training of its volunteers and offers Continuous Training in various areas of the institution’s work. The aim is to inform, clarify and support volunteers in carrying out their volunteering activity. Training can be in person or online and attendance is optional.

In their activity, volunteers are always supported by staff from Santa Casa’s various services, who guide, support, clarify and direct them whenever needed.

Yes. For this, interested parties should contact the Sustainability and Social Responsibility Unit of the Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Department, on +351 213 235 856, or by email at voluntariado@scml.pt.

Yes. Given the target population of SCML’s volunteering activities, speaking and understanding Portuguese is an essential requirement, and each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis.