How volunteering helped Mark find a new career in the NHS in South Tyneside

A volunteer who found a new career with the NHS in South Tyneside in his 60s is encouraging others to give their time to the service after volunteering helped him secure a permanent role.

Mark Harvey, 62, began volunteering with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust in 2024 and in March 2025, he joined the Clinical Engineering team as a volunteer .

When a new permanent opportunity later became available within the service, Mark applied and successfully secured the role following a competitive interview process.

Although his volunteer role was different from his new position, the experience helped him develop new skills and build confidence.

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Having previously worked for 12 years as a Support Worker, the move represented a completely new career direction.

Today, he works as a Medical Device Library Operative at South Tyneside District Hospital for Choice, a subsidiary of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

In his role, Mark is responsible for preparing and maintaining a range of medical equipment including devices such as infusion pumps and nebulisers to ensure they are working correctly.

Mark said: "Volunteering was a great way to see what the role was really like and understand what it involved. It gave me the chance to meet the team, learn new skills and gain valuable experience.

"If anyone is considering volunteering, I'd say give it a go. I'm in my 60s and never thought I'd be able to start a new career, but this experience has shown me that opportunities can come along at any stage of life if you're prepared to put yourself forward.

"Being a volunteer really helped me during the interview process for my new role. I already knew the equipment and had built relationships with the team. I think that gave me confidence and helped me succeed."

John Wall, Head of Clinical Engineering and Medical Device Safety Officer at Choice, said: "Mark has been a fantastic addition to the team. During his time as a volunteer, he showed real commitment, reliability and willingness to learn. He embraced every opportunity to develop his skills and quickly became a valued member of the department.

"We're delighted that he successfully secured a permanent role and continues to make a positive contribution to the service."

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust offer a range of volunteering opportunities, giving local people the chance to gain valuable experience, develop new skills and make a difference to patients, staff and visitors.

For further information about volunteering, please contact the Volunteer Team by emailing [email protected].