Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Volunteering

Background

At the Jobs Summit on the 12th January 2009, Ministers announced a package of support for jobseekers unemployed for six months. This included increased access to volunteering opportunities to improve employability. DWP believes that volunteering alongside work search can help jobseekers to maintain and develop useful skills for work and keep them in touch with the labour market and has included it as part of the Jobseeker’s Support at Six Months package for this reason.

Delivery

In England, BTCV, CSV, V and Volunteering England have been appointed to broker suitable work-focused volunteering placements for Jobseekers Allowance claimants who have been claiming for six months. The programme will run for two years, with a value of £6.8 million, and will aim to place 34,000 jobseekers in work-focused volunteering placements.

Eligibility

Along with the other aspects of the package of support, the volunteering offer will be made available to jobseekers from 6 April 2009. Anyone who has been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months will be eligible, but referral will be at the discretion of the Jobcentre plus Personal Adviser. Activity will not be mandatory: customers will have the right to refuse to participate at all, or to participate in only part of any placement identified.

Volunteer centre Westminster’s Role as Broker

Based on the above over view and Volunteer Centre Westminster’s mission we believe that volunteering is for all, no mater what the user’s background might be in terms of;

Qualified or not qualified
Young or old
Disable or not disable
Ethnicity etc.

We serve all on equal bases in providing the available volunteering opportunity for our clients.
This project (DWP volunteering) has started in April 2009, As one of the many brokers across England we are dealing with all Central London JCPs in;

Visiting JCPs and talk about the process
Matching clients to appropriate volunteering opportunity based on their interest/choice to what we have in our vbase.
Regular follow ups - to check whether or not the clients have succeeded in staring volunteering or need any extra opportunity/help/information etc.

The reason behind our activity or involve people in to volunteering is because we believe on the positive benefits individuals could get as a result. Like; learning new skills and gain useful experiences, develop net-working, fill the gap in your CV, and help your community and many more. In the period of one year I’m’ happy to mention that we are considered as one of the best brokers across England in achieving 92% of what was expected of us in 2009,this show that we have managed to deliver our services efficiently to serve our users to that extent which we are very proud of it.

Case study
This is one of many case studies we have and see what Margaret has said about volunteering;

"I haven't been a volunteer for long but the little time l have spent volunteering has taught me what volunteering can do. I have met people from different cultures and background. Not only have l learned from it but it has also given me the opportunity to give back my time to the community. " - Margaret Nanga From Highgate JCP

For more about the project please contact:

Yohannes Hagos DWP and Volunteering Brokerage Co-ordinator Tel; 020 7087 4351