CNWL Volunteer to Career turns three

Ania:

"Alright… this feels very, very odd to write. Usually, I’m the one pestering our ahhhmazing volunteers and supervisors with questions, scribbling down their stories and shouting about their sparkle. But since it’s the 3rd birthday of the volunteer to career (VtC) programme, I thought it was about time I lifted the curtain on myself (gulp!).

I’m Ania, the volunteer to career lead here at CNWL NHS. My job is all about creating a pathway where volunteering isn’t just about giving back, but also about stepping forward into skills, confidence and even NHS careers.

And just so we’re crystal clear: VtC doesn’t promise you a job. Nope. What it does promise is support.

And when I say support, I don’t just mean a polite pat on the back. It’s the kind of support that comes with pep talks, goal-setting chats, personal-statement scribbles, mock interviews till the jitters melt away, CV glow-ups and a happy dance (yes, really!) when the job offer lands. I’m there for the wobbles and the wins; offering confidence coaching when self-doubt sneaks in and cheering loudly when they get the call. Every journey is different, which is why the support has to be different too. It’s not one-size-fits-all - it’s totally you-sized."

Nuria:
And here’s me, I’m Nuria, volunteer services manager and Ania’s manager. Honestly, it’s been the biggest joy watching this small project grow into a full-blown programme that’s changing lives.

What makes me proudest is seeing how VtC has created real opportunities for people who might never have imagined themselves working in healthcare and for those that had faced many rejections before now blossoming into NHS careers. Volunteers have grown, services have gained and staff have discovered the magic that happens when you bring fresh voices and lived experience into the team.

Ania:

I’ve seen shy first-day volunteers grow into confident NHS colleagues and every time someone tells me ‘I got the job!’ my heart fizzes over. Honestly, I still get goosebumps.

You know what? This programme means the absolute world to me because I’ve lived it myself. I started out as a service user, then became a volunteer and now… somehow, I’m the one running the whole VtC thing! Sometimes I stop and think, wait - how did that even happen?! But that’s the magic of it, isn’t it? One small step turns into another and before you know it, you’re standing somewhere you never dreamed you’d be. That’s why I believe, with every bit of me, that volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to step into an NHS career as it builds confidence, purpose and that deep-down feeling of “yes, I belong here.”

Nuria & Ania:

And what’s happened in 3 years?

• 100 volunteers supported on their journeys (yes, the exact number is 100, which feels spookily neat!).
• Out of those, 71 have gone into NHS employment (we still have to pinch ourselves every time we say it!), 49 are now employed with CNWL NHS across roles from peer support workers to healthcare assistants, admin stars to trainee wellbeing practitioners, and another 45 have continued through education and training.
• Our volunteers come from over 20 ethnic backgrounds, aged 18 to 64, including people with lived experience of disability, migration, caring responsibilities and unemployment, showing that VtC is truly for everyone.
• And this year we’ve also started recruiting volunteers directly through local groups and community organisations - with 11 volunteers already started and over 100 applications showing interest so far.

And that’s not all. Just look at some of the doors we’ve opened together…

• Step-Down Service Volunteers
• St Charles Mental Health Ward Volunteers
• HTT (Home Treatment Team) Volunteers
• CNWL Health Charity Team Volunteers
• Community Mental Health Volunteers at Hathaway House and the Violet Clinic
• Learning Disability Volunteers at Harrow Learning Disability Service (brand new!)
• Patient Liaison Volunteers at Chelsea & Westminster

Each role has opened a new door for volunteers and every door has led to growth, confidence and careers.

Nuria & Ania:

Now, the thank-yous. Mega, mega thank-yous!

VtC has never been a one-woman show as it’s been a glittery gang effort from day one. From our early champions like the amazing Nicola Jhumat, to superstar supervisors and incredible colleagues across every service who’ve co-created roles and welcomed volunteers with so much heart, you’ve all helped VtC grow. And the biggest thanks? Always, always to the volunteers themselves. Without you, there wouldn’t be a VtC.

Ania: And my birthday wish for VtC? Well, I’ll be greedy and go for three! First, that no one ever feels their dreams are too far away. Second, that the phrase “I only started as a volunteer” transforms into “I proudly started as a volunteer!”. And third, that every single volunteer feels like they truly belong in the CNWL NHS family.

Nuria: And my wish? That VtC keeps growing stronger year after year, reaching out to those who never imagined a career in healthcare and that every volunteer and colleague involved feels proud of the difference they’ve made. Because together, we’ve built something really special and the best is yet to come.