Saving Salphina

Salphina Mokgadi went from stuck-in-a-rut to an award-winning volunteer bound for a new career.

When Salphina Mokgadi (pictured) walked into the Ashford One You Shop for her first volunteer shift, she was stepping out of years of isolation and into a life she never thought possible.

Having previously worked as a pharmacy counter assistant, Salphina’s career was paused when covid hit. With her children – particularly her son with additional needs – needing full-time care, her world became small, isolated and overwhelming.

Salphina explained: “I had prayed for something to lift me out of the dark place I was in and that same day, the One You Volunteer to Career programme advert popped up on my Facebook. I just knew it was meant for me.”

The programme helps people transition from volunteering to paid roles and a career in the NHS or other health and social care settings.

Starting with just one volunteer day a week, Salphina quickly found herself looking forward to Thursdays with joy and anticipation. That one day a week at the One You shop quickly became her lifeline.

“I used to say, ‘I’m going to work,’ not ‘I’m volunteering,’” she explained. “It gave me a reason to get out of the house, meet people and feel like me again.”

“I was stuck in a rut,” she shared. “It was just me, the kids, the routines and no space to be myself. I felt like I had no purpose – volunteering gave me back my identity.”

But Salphina wasn’t just finding herself, she was helping others find their way too.

One of her most meaningful moments came through supporting a local gentleman on a weight-loss journey. After completing a formal programme, he continued visiting the shop on Thursdays, Salphina’s day, for weekly check-ins.

“He became my regular,” she said. But it wasn’t just about the scales, it was about trust. “Some days he’d come in feeling low, like he’d messed up and we’d work through it together. That connection reminded me I was making a difference.”

Stories like these became the heart of Salphina’s work and the reason her volunteer role was recognised at the KCHFT staff awards.

Donna Wilks, Project Officer at the One You Shop, who nominated Salphina for the award, saw that spark from day one.

Donna said: “She took to the role like a duck to water. She has this natural warmth. She listens, responds and truly sees people. That’s what makes her exceptional.”

Beyond her time in the shop, Salphina threw herself into training, shadowing services, attending events and learning everything she could about lifestyle advice, blood pressure checks and health improvement pathways.

She became a passionate advocate for prevention and early intervention – something she says aligns with her values deeply.

“I always wanted to help people. I thought maybe I’d be a social worker one day,” she said. “Now I get to help people stay out of hospital and that feels powerful.”

Today, Salphina is not only the proud recipient of KCHFT’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award, she’s also embarking on a new career in health and wellbeing, thanks to the Volunteer to Career programme that didn’t just change her life – it saved it.