14 May 2025

Two years ago, Milena joined our Volunteer to Career (VtC) programme with a dream. Today, we’re catching up to celebrate how far she’s come and how far she’s still going.

The first step with VtC

Not long after joining the programme, Milena full of stars in her eyes, big dreams, and an even bigger heart, stepped into Central & North West London (CNWL NHS) Volunteer Services as our very first Volunteer to Career (VtC) participant.

She came to us full of passion but unsure how to enter a career in mental health. 

One year later, she stepped into her first CNWL NHS role and today, she’s a fully qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) at CNWL Talking Therapies in Hillingdon, still growing and thriving.

It’s been a joy to watch her shine, step by step, with VtC by her side.

Building skills with VtC

Milena started volunteering to put her university skills into practice, but soon realised she wanted more:

"Firstly, I believe my motivation to volunteer stemmed from a combination of my eagerness to apply the skills I acquired at university and my desire to continue learning how to better support and empower individuals as they navigate adversity and challenges. The prospect of receiving support and guidance from mentors and a team that helped me thrive in a field that I was finding difficult to break into ultimately motivated me to join the programme."

The role that made a difference

VtC matched her with a Care Support Volunteer role at St Charles Mental Health Unit, where Milena gained crucial practical experience:

"VtC actively listened to what I hoped to achieve, my goals, and the skills and experience I needed to advance my career and build my confidence. I believe the transition to this role at St. Charles was the final piece of experience that enriched my journey so far."

Through mentoring, CV support, interview preparation, and learning the invaluable STAR method, Milena transformed setbacks into growth:

"The mentoring and career advice was invaluable! I was supported at every stage - from finding relevant vacancies to tailoring my CV and refining personal statements. I also received guidance on interview preparation, and had a supportive space to reflect on unsuccessful applications, which helped me improve and stay motivated.

It was incredibly helpful to have someone review my CV and applications, guiding me on how to tailor my resources accordingly to the role I was applying for. This support had a significant impact on improving my grammar and writing style. Yes! I will never forget the STAR method! Haha. It helped me greatly with structuring my interview answers, presenting myself and my skills effectively, and clearly outlining my abilities in my personal statements."

Ever been told 'not this time' and turned it into 'watch me next time'? That’s exactly what Milena did. When her first application for a Trainee PWP role was unsuccessful, Milena turned to VtC guidance:

"Even when I didn’t succeed on my first attempt, it was an opportunity to learn and reflect. The VtC team’s constant belief in my abilities played a significant part in my journey. We focused on refining my interview skills, exploring the role in more detail and further assessing my transferable skills."

Milena reapplied successfully, moving smoothly from volunteer to trainee PWP, using the skills she’d built through volunteering:

"It was an exciting and challenging transition, but it went smoothly overall. Thanks to my volunteering experience, I had many opportunities to listen to people’s stories and approach their difficulties with an understanding of their unique individualities."

Reflecting now, Milena doesn't hesitate to say just how much the programme changed her life:

"VtC provided essential support in my career journey giving me a safe space to reflect, build confidence, and truly embody my competencies. At the time, I was working full-time, and I remember rushing home after work to join my VtC meetings because I knew how important they were.

They provided essential support in my career journey, offering a space to reflect on my performance both as a volunteer and during my applications while also giving me a safe place to check in on myself."

Guiding the next VtC generation

Milena’s advice to future volunteers captures the heart of VtC:

"Be curious. Embrace feedback. Use the STAR method -it will save you. And most importantly, it’s a journey - enjoy the process."

A future full of possibilities

Milena may have started with stars in her eyes, but now she's lighting the way for others, and her story is far from over. Milena’s journey shows us just how powerfully volunteering can lead to a meaningful career.

And the best part? Milena’s journey isn’t over. She’s still growing, still shining and reminding us all how far a volunteer can go.  But what if her story could be yours?

Contact Ania Adams, VtC Programme Lead: cnwl.vtc@nhs.net