Work Experience

What is the Project About?

Our project aims to create, support and deliver voluntary work experience placements to equip people with the confidence and job skills to enable them to get into work. There is also a particular focus on engaging those who are homeless or disadvantaged and those with a history of mental health issues.

A structured work experience placement provides the ideal opportunity for organisations to receive significant support from a volunteer on a regular basis. Volunteers will gain valuable experience whilst benefiting the community.

Who is the Project For?

Volunteers need to be:

• Not in employment
• Living in Southwark

We will provide support and training to people who want to gain employment through volunteering.

We request that volunteers are Southwark residents and commit to two sessions/days per week for three months, by which time they will be ready to seek employment. Interested applicants attend an initial one-to-one advice sessions to explore the options available to them.

The opportunities we offer are designed to increase participant’s employability and confidence whilst also supporting the community/voluntary sector within Southwark. Volunteers will be supported in their placements and offered training to enhance their experience.

What does the volunteer gain?

People who have taken part in the project say that structured work experience volunteering gives them an opportunity to try something new and be supported in the process. It also offers them the chance to gain new skills whilst improving and building on existing ones. Often, if someone has been out of education or work for a while it’s also about regaining confidence and getting back into a routine.

Training and advice offered through the project helps volunteers become more aware of the resources available to them in their community which they can call on to help them with their job search.

Joy had been out of work for a long time while she was bringing up her daughter. She wanted to get into Administration and the biggest challenge of her placement was trying to work in a team and gain more confidence. She attended one of our communication skills training sessions, which she said helped. Joy said:

“Work experience is the first step to getting back confidence especially if you have been out of work for a while”

Taking part is FREE and some expenses such as travel are covered. If you are not in employment, are a Southwark resident and want to find out what opportunities are open to you simply get in touch to book an appointment.

What benefits do organisations get from hosting a placement?

Benefits are many and include the advantage that the role has a clear beginning, middle and end, which can be helpful with planning. Initial work with the volunteer involves discussion around volunteering and what they want to achieve. This can make it easier for them to get started with you and for them and your organisation to get the most out of their placement.

Although the minimum commitment is set at two sessions/days per week for three months, the majority of people do continue, in some capacity, as a volunteer after this time.

Helping People Mental Health Issues Into Volunteering

We are also actively promoting volunteering to people with a history of mental health issues and organisations working in this field to increase good practice in volunteering and support people into volunteering placements.

Volunteering, when it works, can be a life changing experience and a powerful force for change. It is hoped that by working with people who are homeless we can help to increase their confidence and employability, give structure to their lives and help them get back on track in the direction they want to go.

Coffee Mornings

Once a month, the Work Experience Project holds a coffee morning for new and existing volunteers. The coffee morning provides the opportunity for volunteers to meet and discuss training and routes to employment. Discussion can be centred on how to write a C.V, interview skills and obtaining relevant training such as NVQ qualifications. If you are interested in joining the Work Experience project, why not come along to one of our coffee mornings.

Find out more and get involved:

To find out more contact Agnes Kabuto or Jacob Przeklasa (e-mail: jacob@volunteercentres.org.uk ) via e-mail

or on FREEPHONE 0800 0185 692