A pilot career programme has seen 17 healthcare volunteers take their first steps into a career with the NHS.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust launched its ‘Volunteer to Career' initiative in April 2023 as part of a national NHS pilot.

The programme, which was funded and supported by Health Education England and Helpforce, sees hospital volunteers receiving one-to-one support from clinical leads on the ward and the volunteer service team to develop their skills and hone their experience in readiness for job applications and interviews.

During the course of the pilot, 3,066 patients were supported, and volunteers on the programme provided 1,113 hours of support.

Since the pilot ended in March 2024, 15 of the volunteers are employed directly by the trust and their new careers include pharmacy assistants, healthcare assistants and admin roles. In addition, one former volunteer is now employed by another organisation in the social care sector and another volunteer has been accepted to study a degree in midwifery.

Paul Wharton, head of volunteering at the trust, said: "The pilot has been a remarkable success on a number of levels – not just the numbers of those moving into work. Success has been measured in the collaboration between the volunteer service, the wider trust and external agencies, including our local authorities.

"We've also seen an appetite from the community to get involved and volunteer as a means to secure a career within the NHS."

The trust's volunteer team is currently exploring avenues to develop and expand the volunteer to career programme.