A Healthcare Assistant working in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has received a top award from The Prince’s Trust after building up her confidence and self-belief to take on a demanding job at the Trust’s Emergency Department.
Natalie Taylor, 30, from Lancashire, was named top at the England Country Final of The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards, which recognises young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. Natalie scooped the prestigious Homesense Young Achiever of the Year for England, which recognises someone who has overcome significant barriers to become an inspirational role model.
Natalie began work at the Trust in the summer of 2020, joining through The Princes Trust Get Into Hospital Services programme which provides short placements across various departments within the Trust. Prior to this, she was a stay-at-home Mum to her five young children, the youngest of whom was born with a chronic lung condition and required 24-hour care.
Talking about the programme and her win, Natalie said: “I really struggled finding work when I was looking after my children and I hadn’t had a job for five years by the time I reached out to The Prince’s Trust. Especially with my little girl being poorly, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to work.
“I’d always wanted to work for the NHS and become a nurse though, even more so when I had my daughter and became her full-time carer. It gave me a lot of get up and go to start my career in healthcare.”
“Being at home with five children and not seeing many people especially during lockdown, my confidence and self-belief was really low. On the course, I realised that I could work in a hospital and I just needed to believe in myself. It helped to always have somebody to talk to when I was feeling overwhelmed or unsure of myself and it was important to be in an environment where I could meet new people every day. I started coming out of the shell that I’d been in.”
Following her placement, the Trust offered Natalie a full-time position as a Healthcare Assistant in the Emergency Department at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.
Commenting on her role now, she said: “No matter how hard and tiring work can be, I just love looking after my patients and I wouldn’t change my job for the world. I’ve spent so much time in hospital because of my daughter, so I understand how my patients and their families feel and I can communicate with them.
“My job has changed me as a person. I’m happier at home and around the kids now. I was able to take the kids on our first holiday abroad last year to Spain, it made me so happy to see them smiling.”
Julia Owen, Deputy Director of Education, Research and Innovation at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Natalie is a fantastic role model for the Trust and we are so proud that she has won this award. Her story demonstrates what can be achieved and I hope that it will inspire others to get involved and reach their full potential."
"ELHT and the Prince's Trust have an established and successful partnership supporting young people and providing them with opportunities to gain confidence and employment. Natalie is the second of our young colleagues to receive a prestigious Young Achiever award, which is a testimony to everyone involved across the partnership. Well done Natalie".
