Can volunteering lead to jobs? Tracy Fishwick Lauren Bailey-Rhodes

Can volunteering lead to jobs?

Tracy FishwickLauren Bailey-Rhodes

Massive FJF effort in GM

• 8000 jobs for young people • All public partners, many voluntary,

community and some private • Feedback – YP want jobs!– Confidence – Try a job out side comfort zone – Employer buy-in was impressive

Cultural partners

• Long tradition of volunteer programmes • Variety – festivals, events etc……..• Quality & needs of volunteers paramount

• BUT are they up to the challenge of ‘jobs’?– Lack strategic links to employers – Employability focused?– Mis-understanding of how / whether to connect

with W2W initiatives

So, could we bring the 2 together?

Volunteering • It’s voluntary• Anyone • It can last any length of time • Roles – set or evolve • No employer links• No sanctions • Can dip in and out

FJF• Referrals • Eligibility • Fixed time / hours • It was a job• Employer led• Structured • Exit routes

The task

• Youth unemployment major issue• YP want: real work (experience), routine and a

reference• Get employers involved• Link to JCP and Work Programme• And provide volunteers for Medieval

Manchester – major development• At a fraction of the cost…..!!

The Volunteer Programme

Medieval Manchester Providing new opportunity • Physical re-ordering of the

public realm• Increased visitor numbers • Open space - events / a new

aspect to the city• The Cathedral’s businesses

– café, retail, guides, archiving

• Dig The City

New look Medieval Quarter

The volunteer journey

Partners

• JCP flexible support fund £160k over 3 years– Create 180 volunteer roles for unemployed people– Project management– Health and wellbeing – Volunteer expenses (travel)

• Manchester College– Employability, Customer Service, Team Work and Presentation skills

• Employers – Guaranteed interviews – Taster days – Mentoring

1 Day College½ Day Volunteering

MentoringInter-personal skills

TeamworkCommunication skills

Taster days Health and wellbeing skills

Mock Interviews

10 weeks

Aspirational Futures

• Seeing the Bigger Picture• Moneywise• Thoughtful Decision Making• Creative problem solving• Making Connections• Communication

• Empathetic• Flexible• Aspirational• Resilient• Proactive• Emotional Intelligence• Transferability

When they are ready guaranteed job interviews…

So far…

• 17 starts; 11 roles created • 83% Retention rate • 23% into FT employment• 56% into FT/PT or fixed term employment• £800 pp (av)• Personal outcomes: New friends, theatre trip,

considering new careers, volunteering with different organisations, explore & confidence

What we ask

• Employers – Guarantee interviews to volunteers– Apprenticeships & jobs with training – Good work experience

• Mentors– Can you give one hour a fortnight?

• Other volunteer programmes – Join the Exchange!!

Tracy FishwickTracy.fishwick@cesi.org.uk

@InclusionNW07769670753

Lauren Bailey-RhodesLauren.bailey-rhodes@manchestercathedral.org

0753 136 4111