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It had been two years since the start of the pandemic in March 2022 and Ruby was living in Derbyshire, ready to hit restart on life but needed some support. Ruby took part in the Prince’s Trust Get into the NHS programme and now is part of the NHS workforce. This is her story.
I needed support, to gain confidence again, confidence back in my skills, in finding a meaningful career and getting my life back
In 2020, Ruby lost someone important to her. A few months later, she and her father became unwell with COVID-19 and he sadly passed away too in 2021. Ruby says she crashed, struggling with grief, exhaustion, and the side effects from long covid.
“Since 2020, I became so ill with grief after a suicide bereavement, that I could not work for many months.” However, after the lockdowns had passed, Ruby decided she wanted to try and gain her life back. She couldn’t remember things, she had chronic fatigue, but wanted to try and get back to life as she knew. “Trauma changed me so much I didn’t recognise myself so I decided that I could build whoever I wanted to be in the space left. And I took all the opportunities I could find.”
The 'Get into' programme was accessible to me when I needed help the most. It felt achievable due to the level of the support I got, and it gave me the green light to get on with life
Ruby reached out to The Prince’s Trust and enrolled on to the Get into the NHS programme with Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
“I needed support, to gain confidence again, confidence back in my skills, in finding a meaningful career and getting my life back.” She decided that she wanted to do something that aligned with her values. “I have always cared deeply about people and the planet but I never knew how or where to start my career until I found The Prince’s Trust”
Ruby completed the 4-week programme realising that she was much more capable than she realised. “I was so nervous on the first day, I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know if I could do it.” But Ruby pushed through and during the programme received the news she had been successful in interview for an apprenticeship position with the NHS and will be studying towards a qualification in Business Administration.
I am feeling positive about my future now because I am learning how everything works and how I can fit into it. I look forward to a career that is rewarding and where I can make a positive change
Ruby also went on to join the CareTech Foundation to support on a specific project they were completing and that has greatly helped her upskill her IT, resilience, and professional practice.
In reflection, Ruby said, “The Get into programme was accessible to me when I needed help the most. It felt achievable due to the level of the support I got, and it gave me the green light to get on with life, spending time with people, giving me the skills and seeing just how capable I was. It allowed me to test my abilities in a supportive environment and quash any fears or worries that I had. I have become more resilient to day-to-day challenges, and I felt all my previously developed skills and knowledge come back to me.”
“I cannot thank The Prince’s Trust enough, they have given me a safe and strongly supported opportunity to gain confidence and experience in one of the best organisations in the world - the NHS. Anyone thinking of getting support from The Trust, I’d say go for it! It’s the best organisation I have found for helping young people. I will also encourage my little sister to try the Prince’s Trust when she is old enough.”