How to setup the scheme that gives jobs to people on benefits

John_Diver

Hey,

Sorry for the bad title!

I am working in a community group and I wanted to know how to setup the scheme to have people volunteer and get something extra on their benefits?

This is a non-profit group and registered with the local council, awaiting charity status.

Thanks for any help

gibson123

John_Diver wrote: »

Hey,

Sorry for the bad title!

I am working in a community group and I wanted to know how to setup the scheme to have people volunteer and get something extra on their benefits?

This is a non-profit group and registered with the local council, awaiting charity status.

Thanks for any help

What scheme? There are numerous schemes. do you want to offer work experience to people who are on benefits, or do you want to become a provider for the work programme. Can you give some additional information. Also what is your organisation's core purpose.

John_Diver

Sorry for the late reply, I thought I would get an email notification.

I read online about a few schemes available, the main one is so people can volunteer with us and gain experience that will help them.

Everyone in the group volunteers, but we won't be on the scheme, just others in the community.
Our main purpose is for social and welfare rights for the community, something similar to CAB, there are other aspects to it, we are also running free courses for the community, it is a general community development project.

We have a few people that want to volunteer if we can setup the scheme for them so they are registered with jobs and benefits and will also get a little extra on their benefits for volunteering.

Thanks for the reply

harrys_dad

Why not ask Job centre Plus about the regulations?

Dogger69

Anyone on JSA can volunteer with you, you do not need authorisation from the JCP to recruit them, simply advertise on one of the volunteering databases.

I'm not sure what you are referring to with regard to claimants 'getting a little extra on their benefits for volunteering' - there is no such thing.

John_Diver

When people volunteer (In Northern Ireland anyway) - They receive £15 or £30 extra when they volunteer a certain amount of hours.

I'm not sure if the same thing happens in England.

Sorry for my bad phrasing of this.

paddedjohn

That's not volunteering, that's working.

Dogger69

John_Diver wrote: »

When people volunteer (In Northern Ireland anyway) - They receive £15 or £30 extra when they volunteer a certain amount of hours.

I'm not sure if the same thing happens in England.

Sorry for my bad phrasing of this.

It must be an NI thing, definitely doesn't happen here. If you can provide more information I would be interested to read it.

John_Diver

No problem, I can get the things I have printed off - It is for working for a non-profit organisation.

It is a big scheme here. I am working for free myself.

Dunroamin

Where will you be getting your funding from for your scheme and do you have it in place already?

John_Diver

Yes, the funding is provided by the council, they provide funds for community groups, it is only a startup fund of £1500, that is to pay for rent, computer, phone line etc.

Apart from that, it will be fund raising.
We already have our office setup now and ready for people to come, phone line, website etc.