Kavitha Volunteers in the NHS

Kavitha joined the Grow programme in Hillingdon in September. With over ten years of experience in IT, she was keen to get back into work after a career break and felt ready to explore new directions.

Since joining Grow, Kavitha has been a regular face at workshops focused on interview preparation, confidence building and job searching. “The sessions have really helped me upgrade my skills,” she said. “We covered how to dress, how to approach an interview, and how to speak confidently about ourselves. The guest speakers at Grow’s Coffee Mornings were especially helpful; I learnt a lot from Jonty Rooke’s STAR technique and practical advice that he shared and I was quite inspired by him.”

When Grow shared an opportunity to apply for the Imperial Health Charity NHS Volunteering Programme, Kavitha put herself forward and was thrilled to be selected. She started her placement at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington last week.

“They showed us the different roles and departments, from admin to healthcare, and how volunteers support patients and staff. It helped me understand how the NHS works and where my skills might fit. I would like to give special thanks to NHS VEP Maryam Bello-Tukur for all her help and guidance” said Kavitha.

The programme is flexible and supported by online learning. Volunteers complete e-learning modules tailored to the roles they’re interested in, including digital services and administration. Kavitha is already planning her next steps.

“I’m learning a lot and I’m still applying for jobs alongside volunteering,” she said. “I want to keep growing while I do this. The Grow team have really helped me build my confidence and believe in what I can do.”
She found out about Grow through her child’s school and was signposted by a parent support worker. She’s been supported by Saeema, Khatera and the rest of the team ever since.

“Saeema was so encouraging. She invited me to events and kept in touch about opportunities. Without her and the Grow team, I wouldn’t have known about this volunteering programme at all.”

Kavitha now hopes to secure a paid job in the NHS, ideally in a role that combines her IT experience with her new interest in healthcare. But more than anything, she’s proud to be making progress.