Award win for young Island apprentice highlights power of the CfYP programme
Just one day after being crowned Best Educational Programme in the NHS at the 2025 HSJ Partnership Awards, the Careers for Young People (CfYP) programme is celebrating again — this time thanks to the success of one of its own.
Kaitlyn Donovan, 18, was named Apprentice of the Year at the Isle of Wight Radio Best in Business Awards on Friday 21 March, recognising her outstanding contribution as part of the Adult Acute Speech and Language Therapy Team at St Mary’s Hospital.
Kaitlyn joined the CfYP Programme at 17 and now works with stroke patients, helping them regain their speech and communication skills.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received throughout my Apprenticeship. The Careers for Young People Programme has helped me grow in confidence and discover my passion for speech and language therapy. Starting at 17 was scary, but it gave me the chance to explore different healthcare roles. Now I’m supporting stroke patients with their speech and communication and feel like a valued member of the team. I couldn’t have done it without the CfYP team and the acute speech and language team, and I hope more young people get the chance to benefit from this unique opportunity,” said Kaitlyn.
The CfYP Programme, developed by HTP Apprenticeship College and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, creates direct NHS career pathways for young Islanders aged 16–18.
Kaitlyn’s win shows the real impact of this approach — both for individuals and the NHS workforce. She is one of 43 young people who are on, or have completed, the programme, with 100% of leavers so far securing employment.
