Inspiring the next generation
As young people across the country receive their GCSE results this week, Barts Health’s Healthcare Horizons programme is helping students in East London see that a career in the NHS could be their next step.
- So far this year, 613 students across Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Waltham Forest have taken part in career-focused activities.
- 162 students have attended immersive healthcare events, from minimally invasive surgery demonstrations on the da Vinci surgical robot to hands-on dentistry and life support training.
- The New2Care pathway, delivered in collaboration with the Education Academy, has already helped fill 86+ Healthcare Assistant roles at Barts Health, with many participants progressing into nurse apprenticeships.
- Through Healthcare Horizons mentoring, 359 mentees are currently being supported by 99 NHS mentors, building skills, confidence and career ambitions.
- Since April, the trust has provided 525 work experience placements, giving young people a first-hand look at careers in the NHS.
These programmes are designed to support young people — particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds — to discover the wide range of NHS career opportunities, from apprenticeships and entry-level roles to specialist training.
One of those inspired is Ayesha, who joined Healthcare Horizons while still at school. She first took part in a taster day at Whipps Cross Hospital and was surprised at how hands-on and engaging it was. That experience, along with resuscitation training and a five-day work placement at Newham Hospital, strengthened her resolve to study medicine.
“The work experience really opened up my eyes to the medical field,” says Ayesha.
With support from the programme on interviews, personal statements and understanding different healthcare careers, Ayesha went on to secure a place to study Medicine at Queen Mary University of London.
Agnieszka Wrobel, healthcare horizons programme manager, explained:
“Healthcare Horizons is about opening doors for young people and showing them that a career in the NHS is possible, whatever their starting point. By giving students hands-on experiences, mentoring and practical support, we’re not only helping them make informed choices about their future — we’re also building a more skilled, diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.”
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