About Us

The League of Friends of the John Radcliffe Hospital operates two cafés, the proceeds from which help to buy essential hospital equipment and services that are not financed by the NHS itself.  We do this thanks to all the staff, patients and visitors who buy refreshments from our cafés.

The League of Friends of the John Radcliffe Hospital was established in the 1970s when a group of volunteers decided to sell teas and coffees to staff, visitors and patients. We now run two busy cafés, in the Main Hospital and the Women’s Centre, that are operated by over 80 volunteers who give of their time to make sandwiches and rolls, serve coffee and teas and sell cakes and buns.

Grants

All the profits from these cafés are returned to the hospital in the form of grants. These grants finance essential equipment and services for John Radcliffe Hospital staff and patients that the NHS cannot fund itself. As a result of people using our cafés, the League of Friends was able to contribute a record £202,000 to the hospital in 2017/18.

Constant budgetary constraints on the NHS mean that the extra funding available from the League of Friends of the John Radcliffe Hospital is always much appreciated. The more people that use our cafés, the more money we can give.

Find out what we’ve bought for the John Radcliffe Hospital recently here

Volunteers

Our cafés are run by a friendly group of volunteers who are ordinary people of all ages who like to give something back. They give of their time for free in order to help the cafés to raise money for the hospital. Along the way they have fun, smile a lot, provide words of support and encouragement to customers and in so doing make visitors to the cafés feel welcome.

Would you spare a few hours each week to become a volunteer?

Did You
Know...

We also welcome donations or legacies to help us with our work. You can donate here

“By being a volunteer and joining in, feeling useful, meeting friendly people, being part of a team and part of our great NHS, all feels good to me.”

2019-02-05T13:22:19+00:00
“By being a volunteer and joining in, feeling useful, meeting friendly people, being part of a team and part of our great NHS, all feels good to me.”

“I love the friendly volunteers, the lovely fresh food and the fact that you can get proper tea made in a teapot!”

2019-02-25T11:52:34+00:00
"I love the friendly volunteers, the lovely fresh food and the fact that you can get proper tea made in a teapot!"

“The League of Friends volunteers are so friendly and the tea is the best in the hospital!”

2019-02-25T11:52:57+00:00
"The League of Friends volunteers are so friendly and the tea is the best in the hospital!"

“I’m very grateful to the League of Friends for their volunteering work, for providing such a friendly service and supporting our marvellous hospital for the benefit of all of us.”

2019-02-25T11:53:18+00:00
"I’m very grateful to the League of Friends for their volunteering work, for providing such a friendly service and supporting our marvellous hospital for the benefit of all of us."

“The people who work at the League of Friends turn a simple café into an extraordinary one.”

2019-02-25T11:53:39+00:00
"The people who work at the League of Friends turn a simple café into an extraordinary one."

“They give of their time for free so that the profits are higher (reduced staff costs) and all patients can benefit.”

2019-02-25T11:54:10+00:00
"They give of their time for free so that the profits are higher (reduced staff costs) and all patients can benefit. Who needs M&S and Prêt when we have the League of Friends? They make working at the hospital more pleasurable."

“The food is well presented and good quality and very reasonably priced. You can sense how much the volunteer staff value giving good, friendly service.”

2019-02-25T11:54:30+00:00
"The food is well presented and good quality and very reasonably priced. You can sense how much the volunteer staff value giving good, friendly service."

“Who needs M&S and Prêt when we have the League of Friends? They make working at the hospital more pleasurable.”

2019-03-08T16:39:05+00:00
"Who needs M&S and Prêt when we have the League of Friends? They make working at the hospital more pleasurable."