Volunteer to Career expands to help people back into work through health volunteering

Helpforce’s Volunteer to Career (VtC) initiative - designed to help people secure permanent jobs in healthcare via volunteering - is expanding to focus specifically on those who are economically inactive, offering a new route back into employment.

The charity is partnering with North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to expand the scheme, supporting the region’s Health and Growth accelerator programme – a local initiative that aims to help over 2,000 individuals find employment.

Through the collaboration, VtC is providing structured volunteering placements within a variety of healthcare settings, giving participants practical experience, confidence, and skills to support their return to work.

Maeve Hully, Director of Volunteering at Helpforce, said the partnership marks an important milestone for VtC.

“We are thrilled to partner with North East and North Cumbria ICB on this important initiative,” she said. “Thanks to the flexibility of the Volunteer to Career programme, we are able to tailor it to meet the needs of individuals who have been out of work and are looking for a supported route back into employment.

“Working closely with colleagues at the ICB and the Department for Work and Pensions, we successfully engaged local partners and are now delivering the programme across six hospitals and one hospice in the region.”

Participants will take on volunteer roles across a range of clinical and non-clinical roles such as discharge support, therapy volunteers, check and chat callers, neonatal volunteers and pharmacy volunteers.

Claire Mills, Head of Programmes from North East and North Cumbria ICB, said the scheme could deliver benefits beyond employment support.

“We see significant potential in this programme to improve population health while also strengthening the social and economic environment of our communities,” she explained.

“Evidence from Helpforce shows that volunteering can boost confidence and skills. Through Volunteer to Career, we hope more people will be inspired to move into rewarding careers in healthcare.

“It also demonstrates the value of effective cross-system working, and we look forward to seeing the results.”

The pilot is due to conclude in October, after which Helpforce will carry out a full evaluation to assess its impact and future potential.

Hospitals taking part in the programme are:

• North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

• South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

• Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

• Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

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