20 May 2025

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has been praised in a national report highlighting the impact of a pioneering programme helping volunteers to step into healthcare careers. 

The NHS England-funded Volunteer to Career programme, developed by national charity Helpforce, was designed to support people from all backgrounds into paid healthcare roles or study. SaTH was one of 28 NHS Trusts to take part in the two-year initiative, which launched in 2022.

The programme has delivered excellent results across the Trust, with more than 80% of volunteers going on to secure NHS employment or move into health-related education. At SaTH, the initiative has supported four successful cohorts, three within maternity and one in radiology. More cohorts are planned for 2025, including a tailored pilot programme for Armed Forces veterans and their families.

Julia Clarke, Director of Public Participation, said: “We are delighted to see the results and the positive impact Volunteer to Career has had on volunteers, patients and our teams.

“This programme has allowed us to connect with more people in our community, allowing them to gain valuable hands-on experience, build confidence and take the next steps toward a healthcare career. We have now included this in our wider volunteering offer.

“We are delighted to see some of our volunteers progress into roles such as receptionists, healthcare assistants and many have been accepted onto training courses like midwifery, preparing them to join the healthcare sector in the near future. It’s especially heartening to see Bailey, from our second maternity cohort, now completing her student midwifery placement here at SaTH.”

Bailey Thompson, a Volunteer to Career participant, said: “The Volunteer to Career programme was the best thing I could have found. I was unsure about applying for midwifery but every single midwife and maternity support worker stood by me and cheered me on.

“It’s thanks to this programme I found the courage to restart my career at the age of 35 and was accepted for the midwifery course at Staffordshire University. I would recommend Volunteer to Career to anyone thinking about a career in the NHS ”.

Nationally, 340 volunteers took part in the programme with outcomes shown across the country:

  • 72% went into further education, training or employment
  • 92% were satisfied or very satisfied with their volunteering experience
  • 95% would recommend the programme to others
  • 84% of staff reported that the programme reduced pressure and helped them to deliver better patient care
  • Staff also reported an increase in pride in their workplace, with the number who would recommend their organisation as a place to work rising from 73% to 86% over the course of the programme

The initiative from Helpforce is designed to harness the power of volunteering in tackling persistent recruitment issues across health services.

Amerjit Chohan, Helpforce Chief Executive, said: “The success of the Volunteer to Career programme is significant. Through expertly designed and structured pathways, volunteers can find their niche without the immediate pressure of employment, while being upskilled and given confidence to take into job interviews.

“We would like to thank SaTH for working with us on designing this programme and allowing us to capture its impact. The commitment and enthusiasm of the Trust’s staff and leadership have made a tremendous difference to this programme, allowing us to expand so it can support more groups of people to achieve their full potential.”

This achievement highlights SaTH’s commitment to widening access to NHS careers and strengthening its connections with local communities.