Helpforce named winner at the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards
23rd March 2026
Helpforce is delighted to announce that our Volunteer to Career programme has been named a winner at the 2026 Health Service Journal Partnership Awards, recognising the healthcare people and projects improving outcomes for patients nationwide.
The programme won in the Staffing Solution of the Year category, celebrating its success in tackling critical healthcare workforce challenges. By creating an accessible, step-by-step pathway, Volunteer to Career (VtC) supports individuals to progress from volunteering into employment, education, or clinical training.
To date, hundreds of volunteers have taken part in the programme nationwide. Of those who completed the pathway, 55% secured healthcare jobs or associated training.
Amerjit Chohan, CEO of Helpforce, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised with a HSJ Partnership Award.
“This achievement reflects the dedication and collaboration of healthcare organisations, funders, volunteers, and staff who have placed their trust in us to develop an innovative approach to attracting new talent into healthcare - while also helping to relieve pressure on the system.
“What makes VtC truly unique is that it is designed around each organisation’s workforce needs. It creates a pipeline of skilled, motivated individuals from the local community, many of whom may not have previously considered a career in healthcare.
“At the same time, volunteers are able to make an immediate difference. 65% of staff reported that VtC participants freed up time, enabling them to support more patients, spend longer with those who need it most, and take vital breaks.
“Most importantly, this award signals a real shift in how volunteers are valued -no longer seen as a ‘nice to have’, but as an essential part of the healthcare workforce.
“We are now expanding the programme to reach even more communities, including refugees and economically inactive individuals, helping them realise their potential and explore rewarding careers..”
Nicole Lambert, a participant of Helpforce’s VtC programme at St Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate, shared her experience:
“I used to work in business, but I got no job satisfaction out of it anymore and it made me feel very low.
“I wanted to start over and have a new career in the medical field, but I had no idea how to go about it. I’d heard about Volunteer to Career, but I didn’t think I would be eligible because I already had a job. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Soon I was putting in four hours of volunteering a week as part of the VtC programme.the hospice. The structured scheme gave me experience and training in various different aspects of the hospice’s activities, offering me a comprehensive overview of different fields.
“It is very uplifting to support people through their journey and see their family come out the other side, knowing they have done everything they can for their loved one, and ready to return home and carry on with their own lives. There is a great sense of care and love.”
After completing the VtC programme, Nicole successfully secured a healthcare assistant role within the hospice, working three days a week, while continuing to work two days in administration.
She added: “I would recommend VtC 150% - it’s a fantastic scheme. The biggest worry I had about switching to a new job was making a mistake and regretting it. VtC gave me the chance to try it out and now I’ve found my niche.”
Among the 70-plus partners involved in VtC is the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, whose Director of Public Participation, Julia Clarke, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to see Helpforce recognised at the HSJ Partnership Awards. With their support, our volunteering service has focused on strengthening our workforce, supporting our staff, improving patient experience and opening doors for people from all backgrounds to join the NHS.
“Helpforce is making such a lasting impact across the health system and we are proud to work with them.”
HSJ Impact Award winners were announced at a ceremony on 19th March 2026 at Evolution London.
For more details on the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards winners visit https://partnership.hsj.co.uk/.
ENDS
NOTES:
ABOUT THE HSJ PARTNERSHIP AWARDS
The HSJ Partnership Awards recognise the most effective collaborations with the NHS highlight the benefits which working with the private and third sectors can bring to patients and NHS organisations.
ABOUT HSJ
The Health Service Journal is the only title to cover all aspects of publicly funded healthcare, providing news, analysis, best practise information from some of the most powerful and respected figures in health. The HSJ audience is formed of healthcare leaders from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and both public and private sectors.
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