From Refugee to Sonographer: Ahmed’s journey of resilience and renewal

Before arriving in the UK, Ahmed was already developing a promising healthcare career in Sudan when political instability forced him to seek safety and opportunity abroad - first moving to Saudi Arabia where he advanced his clinical skills and earned a Master's Degree in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound. Despite the challenges of separation from his family, Ahmed remained determined to create a safer future.

Tragically, years of conflict brought devastating loss. After returning to Sudan to protect his family, Ahmed endured the unimaginable: the loss of two children and his brother to violence, followed by six months of imprisonment due to political activism, during which time he was tortured. These experiences left deep scars, yet Ahmed’s resolve to rebuild never wavered.

Returning to London in 2021, Ahmed applied for asylum, facing homelessness and uncertainty while he awaited a decision. Following this difficult period, he discovered Helpforce’s Volunteer to Career programme, offered in partnership with University Hospitals Tees. Volunteering as a ward assistant, Ahmed began to regain his confidence and reconnect with his professional skills.

Supported by NHS staff, Ahmed transitioned into the radiology department, where he rediscovered his expertise and built a professional network. This experience was transformational. “It helped me remember what I could do,” Ahmed reflects. “Step by step, I started to feel like myself again.”

Drawing on the skills and confidence gained through volunteering, Ahmed secured a sonographer role with a healthcare provider in Essex, marking a new chapter in his career. In April 2026, his family welcomed a new baby, symbolising hope and renewal after years of hardship.

Ahmed’s journey illustrates how the Volunteer to Career programme offers more than just work experience. It provides a structured pathway for medically qualified professionals displaced from their homes to rebuild careers, improve language and communication skills, and integrate into NHS systems. For the NHS, this programme is a practical response to persistent workforce shortages, unlocking the potential of skilled professionals who have faced barriers to employment.

Thousands of displaced healthcare workers in the UK possess valuable clinical experience but struggle to return to practice due to challenges such as professional registration and employment gaps.

Helpforce’s Volunteer to Career programme bridges this gap, providing structured volunteering placements in NHS environments - enabling participants to gain experience of UK healthcare practice, improve language and communication skills, and build workplace networks while working towards professional registration. It also gives NHS organisations a structured way to assess individuals’ competencies, workplace readiness and potential fit for future roles.

Several other organisations offer complementary support, including preparation for clinical exams, careers guidance and assistance with the costs of returning to practice.

Across these pathways, around 300 refugee healthcare professionals from countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan have successfully transitioned into paid healthcare roles over the past three years. Helpforce believes this represents only a fraction of the opportunity.

Helpforce’s Chief Executive, Amerjit Chohan, explains: “We have seen first-hand how structured volunteering can help individuals regain confidence, understand NHS systems and move into frontline healthcare roles. With relatively modest investment, this approach could be scaled across each of the 134 acute hospital trusts in England over the next three years - enabling thousands of refugee healthcare professionals to rebuild their lives while boosting care provision. No single initiative will solve workforce shortages on its own. This programme is one practical contribution among many and we urge the Department of Health and Social Care to look closely at the opportunity.”

Ahmed’s story is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of volunteering. It shows how programmes like Volunteer to Career for Refugees can create opportunities that benefit individuals, families, and the NHS alike.

Learn more about the Volunteer to Career for refugees programme here.