Celebrating two years of the CNWL Volunteer to Career (VtC) Programme

Ania Adams, our Volunteer to Career Lead, is the heart and soul of the programme. She has supported 71 volunteers, helping 48 secure employment with 36 within CNWL NHS and guiding 26 into further training. Ania’s dedication to providing tailored support in personal statement writing, mentoring, and building confidence has been key to the programme’s many success stories. Her energy and passion truly drive the individual journeys that make this programme so special.

Nicola Jhumat - has been a legendary champion of the VtC programme from the very beginning and has truly made a lasting difference. She’s created four incredible volunteer roles, making a lasting impact in key services like St. Charles, Stepdown, Home Treatment, and Community Mental Health. But that’s not all - Nicola has personally supported 45 volunteers, and her ability to match their skills so perfectly has transformed both patient care and how the teams work. Nicola is a true superstar, no question about it. She’s not only built roles and supported volunteers, she’s changed lives and created opportunities where none existed before. The VtC programme wouldn’t be where it is today without her leadership, vision, and relentless drive. Nicola, you’re the heartbeat of this programme!

Special thanks to Nicola’s team, including the ward managers, matrons, support workers, nurses, and all the clinical staff who have supported the volunteers every step of the way.

Nuria De Miguel, our Volunteer Service Manager, has been the driving force behind the smooth operation of the VtC programme. She’s not only run the impactful "Day in the Life" webinars but also ensured the wellbeing and training of every volunteer, while guiding the team to success. Nuria’s leadership and coordination have been absolutely essential in delivering the outstanding, and she’s the glue that holds it all together, helping the team deliver these incredible results.

Radhika Patel & Olayinka Giwa, our amazing Volunteer Coordinators, have been absolute superstars in ensuring every volunteer feels welcomed from day one! Their energy, dedication, and seamless onboarding support have been vital to the success of the VtC programme. A huge thank you to both for making our volunteers feel at home and ready to shine!

Sam Johnson Smith, Westminster Home Treatment Team Manager, has been absolutely phenomenal in supporting our volunteers! Sam took on 5 volunteers, ensuring they blended like a dream into the team, building essential skills, and making a huge impact on patient care. The feedback from our volunteers has been nothing but positive! Sam has truly gone above and beyond, showing what’s possible when volunteers are given the chance to grow and contribute in a community-based setting.  A huge thank you to Sam and the entire Home Treatment Team for being such superstars!

Sonia Jhumat, Stepdown Senior Support Coordinator, has been absolutely amazing. She’s taken 5 volunteers under her wing with such care, passion, and dedication and you can just feel how much she loves what she does. Her brilliant leadership has empowered volunteers to grow in confidence and thrive in their roles, all while making a real difference in patient care. Sonia’s commitment to her volunteers is next level - she ensures they feel supported, valued, and part of the team from day one. Also, volunteers have shared glowing feedback about their experiences! A huge thank you to Sonia and the Stepdown team for all their hard work and dedication - you’re all absolute stars!

Out of 71 volunteers, 30% were unemployed, more than 31% represent protected characteristics, 3% are refugees, and 66% come from areas of significant deprivation. We don’t just talk the talk when it comes to diversity - we actively reach out. Our target was to transition 40% of volunteers into healthcare roles, but we've surpassed that with a success rate of 67.61%. We’re especially proud of our 100% job retention rate in the NHS after 12 months.

Milena was our very first VtC member, starting out as a volunteer, and with VtC support, she became a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP). Now, she has entered her second year as a PWP. It’s her second birthday with us, and we couldn’t be prouder of how far she’s come!

Milena shared a heartfelt message with us: “Volunteering at CNWL and having the opportunity to be part of the VtC programme is something I will always be grateful for and cherish. They have been a big part of my journey into my career from the very beginning. If I had to describe Volunteer Services and the VtC programme in just a few words, it would be: ‘a team that stands by you, believes in you, and encourages you every step of the way and beyond.’ I am proud to still feel part of this wonderful, dedicated and supportive team.”

The VtC programme is about so much more than job placements, it’s about Compassion, as volunteers offer meaningful support to patients; Respect, as we ensure every volunteer feels valued, no matter their background; Partnership, as we create opportunities together; and Empowerment, as we give volunteers the tools to build a healthcare career.

This programme is changing lives and adding real value to CNWL, from reducing patient waiting times to supporting our staff and increasing patient satisfaction. It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re excited to keep creating more success stories.

We’ll keep expanding our inclusive pathways, especially for those from marginalised backgrounds like refugees and people facing deprivation.

We’re also planning to create new roles like mental health ambassadors, pathways of involvement for service users looking for a career in peer support, and continuing to grow and empower more people in healthcare. Offering more opportunities to our local communities, to young people, the Armed Forces, and Veterans, we aim to expand our reach and create meaningful pathways for all.