Jobless scheme hailed as best volunteer project in country

A scheme to boost employment prospects has helped more unemployed people into volunteering sessions in Bradford than any other city in England.

The Department for Work and Pensions recently launched a volunteering brokerage scheme across England aimed at providing 34,000 volunteering placements in the UK over the following two years.

The Shipley-based charity Volunteering Bradford has been running the scheme in the city since last August and to date, over 800 unemployed people have been referred through the three Bradford Job Centres to the project.

Working with community organisations from across Bradford, it is hoped the scheme will help the long-term unemployed to develop work-based skills through volunteering.

From April the scheme will be extended to include young people aged under 25.

These young people will volunteer through the National Young Volunteers Service, V Involved, which aims to inspire a new generation of volunteers and provides an accredited qualification.

The scheme is also supported by Bradford Council which funds volunteering brokerage and capacity building for organisations.

Andy Stephenson, 22, was referred from the Job Centre and has undertaken voluntary work at the Shipley Youth Caf helping to set up a new social enterprise.

He said: “Volunteering has given me the opportunity to apply my existing skills. I have gained valuable key skills from volunteering, completed national awards such as v50, enhanced my CV and improved my chance of returning to the employment sector.”

Mr Stephenson has now gained valuable transferable skills to re-enter the employment sector and develop a career pattern.

Dave Forrest, director of Volunteering Bradford, said: “Volunteering provides a fantastic opportunity to develop skills, fill in gaps in a CV and provide up to date references.

“Community organisations benefit greatly from having additional support too.

“Recent surveys show Bradford has more volunteers than any other Yorkshire city and activities such as this provide a real vocational experience for unemployed people.”