I first heard about Quotient Sciences through a friend of a friend and decided to give it a go. For me, it was a mix of two things, the inconvenience allowance is obviously a great perk, but there’s also a real sense of pride in knowing you’re helping with medical science. It’s a win, win situation! 

My trial was a 31-night stay, it’s been so much more social and relaxed than I expected. I spent a lot of time playing pool and gaming with the other volunteers, and since we’ve been able to watch all the football on TV, the atmosphere was brilliant! Even the food was a massive highlight, I’ve never eaten so many puddings!

As a musician, the downtime during the month-long stay has been incredibly productive for me. Having the time and space away from daily distractions allowed me to get in the zone and finish a ton of tracks I’d been sitting on for ages! 

With the money from the trial, I’m planning on doing something really special for my mum and booking her a well-deserved holiday - plus, a few treats for myself. It’s been such a great experience all around, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone curious about volunteering.

I’m Dave, I’m now into my 50s and I’ve been doing clinical trials with Quotient for around fifteen years so I feel very welcome and know most of the staff. 

For me, it started when I worked in Nottingham. I got talking to a colleague who told me she helped to fund her University studies by doing paid medical trials. I looked into it and haven’t looked back since.

I’m self-employed so I have the flexibility to do two or three trials a year. The money is the main motivation but it’s good to take a break from the routine of work. 

The longest one I’ve done was three weeks – I read five books whilst I was there. I’ve recommended several colleagues to Quotient, and I’ve been paid referral fees for recommending; there’s no limit to how many people you can refer and Quotient are always looking for new volunteers. 

I’m ‘old school’ so I don’t spend as much time on my laptop as some of the ‘younger guys’ I’ve done trials with. I like to start the day by reading my book, have a snooze in the afternoon and then watch some TV in the evening. If the weather’s good I like to play table-tennis or get together with the other volunteers for Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit – I’m very competitive and hate to lose! 

Mealtimes are always a highlight, offering another welcome moment to relax, socialise, and enjoy freshly prepared food. Evening meals, in particular, are eagerly anticipated, providing a comforting end to the day and a chance for us to unwind together.

I’ve just completed a trial but already I’m thinking about the next one and how I’m going to spend the inconvenience allowance. 

It really is a great feeling to know that I am helping advance the world of medicines and getting paid for my time too! If you’re still not sure – read the rest of the volunteer stories – it’s like a community of likeminded people who are superheroes – without the capes!

I first found out about Quotient Sciences by accidentally clicking on an advert on social media. I was about to close the window that popped up, but had a quick read through first, and the idea of clinical trials intrigued me as my nephew had mentioned only a few days before that he’d considered participating in a trial himself while at university. The idea of actually playing a small part in the release of a new treatment rather than just hearing about it somewhere afterwards really appealed to me, and the generous allowance for taking part made it financially viable too. So, before I knew it, I’d signed up for a trial for a new treatment for malaria. 

I’d never taken part in a trial anywhere previously, so it was a completely new experience for me. It involved one 4-night stay at the unit, with a screening visit beforehand and then nine return visits afterwards of an hour or so each, spread over two months.  I received clear and comprehensive info about the trial prior to the screening, which gave me confidence that I’d made the right decision to sign up. 

The other volunteers on the trial were great, we got along brilliantly and had a real laugh together, took part in a couple of quizzes, played pool, table tennis etc. Plus the food was lovely. I’m convinced some of them didn’t want to leave by the end of it – well I didn’t anyway! That tells you how fantastic the staff were as well – professional but friendly and always happy to help. Everything was explained thoroughly; no corners were cut, and we knew exactly what procedures would happen and when. 

I can’t wait to sign up for another trial when possible, and in the meantime I might invest some of the money in pool and table tennis lessons to make the next one even better.