Delivered by Barts Health NHS Trust, and supported by Barts Charity, Healthcare Horizons is a proven programme that helps young people develop the skills, experience and confidence to pursue careers in healthcare.
About Healthcare Horizons
Over the next 2.5 years, the latest phase of the programme will continue to widen access to NHS careers for young people from disadvantaged and under-represented communities. It is hoped that it will build a more diverse and representative future workforce within the UK.
Healthcare Horizons responds to two important challenges:
- Creating meaningful work experience and employment opportunities for local young people
- Supporting the long-term sustainability of the NHS workforce
The new phase of Healthcare Horizons
Building on the success of the programme’s first two phases, the third phase aims to:
- Engage over 1,000 young people across East London
- Deliver over 150 work experience placements
- Support at least 100 young people through pre-employment training
- Partner with 37 local schools and colleges
- Increase participation from young people from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds
Since Healthcare Horizons began in 2019, the programme has engaged more than 4,600 young people through careers events and mentoring, supported 945 students to complete NHS work experience placements, helped 330 young people secure NHS employment through pre-employment pathways, enabled 602 participants to progress into health-related degree programmes and provided almost 3,000 virtual work experience opportunities.
Supporting Rahat into employment
Rahat, a Tower Hamlets resident, is one of the young people who has been supported into employment through Healthcare Horizons. He is currently working as a Trainee Assistant Technician Officer in a pharmacy.
“Before Healthcare Horizons, finding a job genuinely seemed impossible,” he said. “I was looking for a job for about three years and it made me feel helpless and frustrated because I couldn’t do anything.
“Healthcare Horizons helped me understand the importance of the patient and how their needs must always come first. It taught me empathy and how to be there if a patient needs it. The team also set me up with a placement at The Royal London Hospital, which helped me get the job I have now and I am very grateful for it.”
The new phase of the programme reflects a shared commitment between Bank of America, Barts Health NHS Trust and Barts Charity to expand opportunities for local young people while helping develop the workforce needed to meet the future health needs of East London’s communities.
“It is wonderful that we have been able to build on our working relationship with Bank of America on the Healthcare Horizons programme. National concern is growing about the opportunities available for young people – as the recent Milburn report showcased. The Healthcare Horizons programme demonstrates how businesses, charities and the NHS can work together to open doors for the next generation and create a more inclusive future workforce.”Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive of Barts Charity
"At Bank of America, we are committed to helping create economic opportunity in the communities we serve. Through our support for Healthcare Horizons, we are helping more young people access pathways into NHS careers while supporting the development of a future workforce that reflects the communities of East London. We are proud to partner with Barts Charity and Barts Health NHS Trust to expand the programme's impact and reach."Fernando Vicario, Country Executive, UK, Bank of America
Healthcare Horizons demonstrates how collaboration between the NHS, charities, education providers and businesses can create clearer pathways into sustainable employment while helping the NHS attract talented people who reflect the communities it serves.
As an independent healthcare charity rooted in East London, we work alongside partners to support healthcare improvement, research and innovation that can improve health outcomes for local people. Supporting programmes such as Healthcare Horizons reflects our commitment to helping reduce health inequalities and create lasting opportunities for communities across East London.
