More than 1,000 young people across east London will be supported to explore healthcare careers through Barts Health NHS Trust, as its Healthcare Horizons programme enters a third phase.

Supported by Barts Charity, the programme helps young people build the skills, experience and confidence to pursue careers in healthcare. Over the next two and a half years, the latest phase will continue to widen access to NHS careers for young people from disadvantaged and under-represented communities.

The programme responds to two challenges: "creating meaningful work experience and employment opportunities for local young people, and supporting the long-term sustainability of the NHS workforce".

Building on the first two phases, phase three aims to engage over 1,000 young people across east London, deliver more than 150 work experience placements and support at least 100 young people through pre-employment training, working in partnership with 37 local schools and colleges.

Since Healthcare Horizons began in 2019, it 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 into 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.

Among those the programme has supported into work is Eliana Yohannes, who is about to start a new role as a senior healthcare assistant at Newham Hospital. Before Healthcare Horizons, she had spent eight months trying to find a job.

"I was just emailing, emailing, emailing everywhere - retail jobs like Primark, TK Maxx, Starbucks, everywhere. No one got back to me. It was very hard," she said, describing feeling desperate after six months of rejection.

On the programme she gained clinical experience at both Newham and Mile End hospitals, which she says she "really enjoyed".

"I know a lot more about Barts and the NHS," she said. "If you asked me how I'd welcome someone in a hospital before I joined Healthcare Horizons, I wouldn't know. When you get love and appreciation from patients and they say 'thank you' - that really helped me."

Fiona Miller Smith, chief executive of Barts Charity, said: "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."