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NHS Cadets is a youth volunteering programme established by NHS England. It is delivered by St John Ambulance, working in partnership with local NHS trusts and healthcare providers across the country.
As an NHS Cadet, young people learn about life in healthcare from inspiring professional speakers. They develop key skills, boost their self-confidence, and get to explore careers in the healthcare sector through volunteering experiences.
The NHS Cadets programme provides two options for young people aged 14 to 18; a foundation pathway for young people aged 14 to 16 and an advanced pathway for those aged 16 to 18.
In 2021, an evaluation of the programme by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations found that 94% of foundation pathway NHS Cadets were satisfied with the programme. Their reasons included:
finding sessions fun or exciting
learning new skills
enjoying getting to know other NHS Cadets.
Through the NHS Cadets programme NHS England is committed to reaching a diverse range of young people. This includes engaging with those who may encounter barriers to accessing volunteering opportunities in health due to their personal and family circumstances, or those from communities who may not naturally consider a future career in our sector.
Where possible this is being achieved through a focus on recruiting young people from underrepresented groups. These groups include young people who are not in education, employment or training, who have a learning disability, come from low-income families, are young carers, have mental health conditions or are from ethnic minority backgrounds.
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