The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector Colin Wilson Third Sector Coordinator

Vision  Engage workless and socially excluded people in training and volunteering  Improve their skills and confidence, so raise their aspirations  Create routes into employment, further volunteering and training  Use excitement of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – volunteering at games  Promote volunteering more generally

The Programme  Training: 9 units, 120 guided learning hours, ONC Level 1 award in Event Volunteering  Volunteering: 20 hours placements  Does not affect benefits  Travel and childcare paid for  Support from Personal Best Adviser (includes CV writing and job search)

Training  Volunteering and the Olympics  Becoming a volunteer  Understanding equalities and diversity  Understanding effective customer relations  Emergencies & basic fire awareness  Public safety  Introduction to conflict resolution in a public setting  Developing team and interpersonal skills  Preparing for and reflecting on a volunteer placement

Volunteering  Integrates with training  Event-based or longer-term  Helps build CV  Helps build confidence

What Participants Say Stephen “It helped my motivation. Meeting other people and the social side of being on the course has been absolutely brilliant.” “I was doing voluntary work as a Care Assistant helping the homeless. I am still volunteering at the moment and I enjoy it, and attending classes to improve my English.” “It’s great as a springboard for getting back into further training or employment”.

What Participants Say Haddi “It covers so many things – going to interviews, communicating in a group, now I feel part of society. I enjoyed doing the voluntary work and meeting my colleagues in class – the tutors were wonderful. I am overwhelmed and thankful. Through volunteering I now know I want to work in customer care.” “Personal Best has really helped me improve my English and I’ve also completed my CV.

What Participants Say Bariale “Achieving the Level 1 Qualification for Personal Best helped give me the confidence to do these NVQ’s as I felt so much more confident with my English. I am also still working for Brent Council as an interpreter and enjoying it very much as I get to meet interesting people everyday.”

What Participants Say Sarah “My friends and family have seen the changes in me. The PB course brought out the best in me and improved my self confidence as well as opening up doors into training and employment.” “Volunteering offers flexibility of time, which suits my childcare needs.”

Eligible Groups  Unemployed or economically inactive or  Working less than 8 hours a week and  Not already in accredited training  Born after June 1993 – must be 18 by June 2011  Living in Greater London  Eligible to work in the EU and have recourse to public funds and  Have entry level 2 or above in literacy skills but  Do not have a level 2 qualification or above

Target Groups  People with learning disabilities and difficulties  People receiving incapacity benefits  Lone parents  BAME people  Ex-offenders  Homeless people  Refugees

Delivery  Delivered in local communities  Support from Personal Best Adviser throughout course  Nationally accredited qualification  Progression routes after completion  Support for up to 6 months

Structure Marketing Publicity Engaged Assessment Enrolment Action Plan RegisteredCompleted IAG Plan more volunteering, job search or training Achieved 6 weeks employment 6 months employment Volunteering Training Including 20 hours volunteering LDALDA LSCLSC

Structure - Payments Marketing Publicity Engaged Assessment Enrolment Action Plan RegisteredCompleted IAG Plan more volunteering, job search or training Achieved 6 weeks employment 6 months employment Volunteering Training Including 20 hours volunteering £ £ £ £ £ £ ££ LDALDA LSCLSC

Structure – Voluntary Sector Involvement Marketing Publicity Engaged Assessment Enrolment Action Plan RegisteredCompleted IAG Plan more volunteering, job search or training Achieved 6 weeks employment 6 months employment Volunteering Training Including 20 hours volunteering LDALDA LSCLSC

Structure – Voluntary Sector Involvement Marketing Publicity Engaged Assessment Enrolment Action Plan RegisteredCompleted IAG Plan more volunteering, job search or training Achieved 6 weeks employment 6 months employment Volunteering Training Including 20 hours volunteering LDALDA LSCLSC

Structure – Voluntary Sector Involvement Marketing Publicity Engaged Assessment Enrolment Action Plan RegisteredCompleted IAG Plan more volunteering, job search or training Achieved 6 weeks employment 6 months employment Volunteering Training Including 20 hours volunteering LDALDA LSCLSC

Progress  1640 people have completed (target 2000)  11% of people who complete do more volunteering  6% of people who complete do more training  4% of people who complete find employment

Issues  Recruitment  Drop-out rates  Volunteering opportunities  Several providers dropped out  Many providers way behind targets  Lack of clarity about purpose of PB