JSA Sanction Question

Detroit

NeilCr wrote: »

Well no

But taking where I volunteer into consideration... It's not about volunteers re paid staff. It's about a lack of funding which means that the best way of keeping the whole thing going is by using volunteers.

Not about the organisation - more about the financing

It's also often the case that the roles performed by volunteers are different from those held by paid staff within the organization, with paid staff supporting the work of volunteers.

As voluntary agencies are not profit making, using volunteers rather than paid staff is not done for mercenary reasons, but as Neil says, because without volunteers they would not be able to afford to provide their service.

It would be most unusual for a voluntary agency to require a person to carry out a role voluntarily for a period of time and then offer the role on a paid basis.

If funding exists to pay someone, a paid role is offered. If it's not, the role may be performed by a volunteer.

OP will not therefore find a volunteer role that guarantees eventual paid employment, and should not volunteer with this expectation.

The contribution volunteering makes to employability is to provide training and experience to acquire transferable skills, which can increase the chances of finding paid work somewhere, not necessarily within that agency.

For this reason, it is incorrect to say volunteers give their time for free. The relationship is often of great mutual benefit due to the free training provided by the agency.

NeilCr

To add

I know it wouldn't be good to feel that the organisation was taking the p""s if they were using volunteers to save on a paid role - although, as I said, in my case, they aren't

However, even if that was the situation you'd still be

a) helping those more unfortunate than you

b) feeling good about doing a)

c) interacting with people

d) improving your skills and confidence

Money_saving_maniac

johnsmithy wrote: »

Thank you for all the feedback - I would like to say I apologise if I have offended anyone and I will look into volunteering work and I will be honest if I say I would like for it to lead to something permanent.

Even if it doesn't it will bring your CV up to date which is a good thing.
Also having been unemployed for 18 months you probably need some external validation to increase your sense of self esteem and confidence which will have taken a battering after having applied for 400 jobs with no luck. A bit of appreciation of your work will possibly lift your spirits and make you feel more positive.
Find something that you would enjoy doing as a volunteer and I really hope it all works out for you.

johnsmithy

Well if I am being honest, I rather *would* get paid, but at the same time, it will go a long way to enhancing my CV.

I also have a job interview this Friday, which is a good thing, so lets see what happens from that. I will tell the BHF though I am looking for something to come out of the volunteering and I even told my adviser this and they agreed.

To say I've taken a battering is an understatement. Not just because of the job search, but because of difficult medical issues and also mental stress - not been a good two and a half years but its a fresh start now.

sangie595

johnsmithy wrote: »

not been a good two and a half years but its a fresh start now.

Approach volunteering like that and you will get a lot further. Nobody at all is going to tell you that volunteering leads directly to a job. That happens rarely. And of course you would want a job, everyone understands that. Hopefully, you might one day want both, as many people do.

Instead of focussing on what volunteering won't do for you, think about what it will do. That reference, showing that you can keep a commitment, gaining new skills, getting out and about, and, without any doubt at all, helping create a better frame of mind and positive outlook on life. Think about what you might like to do - the range is endless. Some will require a longer term commitment because there is training, or commitments to people and things that aren't overnight successes; others will be shorter term commitments. For example, I work with people and my job is very demanding, so I volunteer with animals - dogs specifically, helping to rehome some of the most behaviourly challenged dogs that otherwise wouldn't stand much of a chance of being placed. It's a long term commitment because you can't just walk away from work of this sort, but it's immensely satisfying, and, to be honest, after spending all my time with challenging people, an aggressive dog is relaxing! At least dogs are sensible!

There are Volunteer Centres in many towns and all cities where people will help you look at what you would like to get out of volunteering and talk to you about the range of opportunities available. It isn't the case that you just have to go out looking for yourself - there are people (often volunteers themselves) who will act just like "careers advisors" but for volunteering.

If you decide that this is something you want to do because you want to do it, and just that, then you will have a lot of fun and get a lot out of it. If you approach it as "what's in it for me" then you will hate every minute of it, and shouldn't be there.

YKay

I have never done voluntary, and would never wish to unless it had a good cause - e.g. cancer research etc.

But just remember, you don't have to state the work is voluntary on your CV, working is working.

As for your question, you don't have to do it, the job centre are trying to get you to "Opt" in to it, you only have to do it when it becomes Mandatory.

dcouponzzzz

You're in for a pleasant surprise then YKay, because the majority of voluntary work if for good causes! Helping the less fortunate, helping abandoned animals trust people again, creating permanent spaces to facilitate the development of a good cause, being the smiling face at a charity event drinks stand... take your pick! I hope I'll see you at one shortly

On your CV you have to declare gaps in employment. Considering volunteering isn't employment you really should declare it.

Sncjw

I would take volunteering up. It might get you a job quicker as your showing initiative and also you have someone as a recent reference. If you have that on your cv it's a more recent experience of working.

I'm not a hiring person but if I saw someone volunteering in the recent times against someone who hasn't been employed for two years I would ask the person volunteering to come for interview.

You build skills volunteering, meeting new people, communication, problem solving cash handling, admin. Those skills are really transferable and having those fresh in you will help for new jobs and you can put these on additional info on applications. Tell them what skills are useful for the job. Even if you don't have a skill the job needs say although I haven't got experience in this field I am willing to undertake training. By training me you will have someone trained to your business needs

xapprenticex

johnsmithy wrote: »

That's what concerns me TELLIT01. I don't want to get sanctioned, so I think doing voluntary might just have to be the way to go.

I appreciate it might look good on the CV but even so, I'm not getting paid for doing that work.

Ive not read the other posts because i dont want to, but my opinions.

1: I dont want to volunteer BUT i want a real job is an excuse to get out of working NOW and rather focusing on something in the future.

2: You dont want to offer your time to people in need for FREE but you are willing to be a person in need and take a potion of our tax money without working for it (for FREE)? It doesnt add up.

Thats all

YKay

dcouponzzzz wrote: »

You're in for a pleasant surprise then YKay, because the majority of voluntary work if for good causes! Helping the less fortunate, helping abandoned animals trust people again, creating permanent spaces to facilitate the development of a good cause, being the smiling face at a charity event drinks stand... take your pick! I hope I'll see you at one shortly

On your CV you have to declare gaps in employment. Considering volunteering isn't employment you really should declare it.

On the other hand, you have companies such as Argos taking on voluntary, which isn't much of a cause.