1. www.bitc.org.uk Developing experience through volunteering and work placements

2. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Denise Gibbs Support Team Leader, Old Tea Warehouse High Wycombe, Riverside ECHG Debra Fearnshaw Head of Operations, Work Inclusion Business in the Community Who are we?

3. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Workshop will: How to offer volunteering opportunities to homeless people to build skills and confidence How to develop employability action plans The principles of good quality work placements The outcomes that can be achieved through clients participating in volunteering and work placements The importance of employer involvement to ensure that work placements are beneficial to clients and employers alike How work placements fit alongside other support to make sure clients are prepared for and make the most out of their placement (case study) Objectives for today

4. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Getting into a routine Learning what to expect in the workplace Meeting new people Work in an industry that is of interest Gain experience Gain self confidence Feel useful Use on CV Learn new skills Stand out from the other candidates Can lead to a paid position The benefits of volunteering / undertaking work placements

5. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Lack of experience Lack of skills/qualifications No routine, stable accommodation Substance misuse Low self-esteem Lacking in confidence Offending history Poor personal hygiene Poverty/ lack of suitable clothing for working Mental health issues Never worked before/family has never been employed Barriers to employment

6. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Find out what interests the client Develop links and effective partnership working practises with other agencies Research volunteering opportunities Take baby steps Complete a SMART action plan Research local training courses together Use disclosure letters for offending histories Write a CV together Refer to agencies assisting with employability skills Ensure that the client is receiving support for other issues (e.g. substance misuse) alongside your back to work support. Overcoming barriers and creating an action plan

7. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Local Volunteer Centres Library Citizens Advice Bureau Do-it.org.uk Reciprocal arrangements (e.g. hostels) Business in the Community Researching volunteer/work placement opportunities:

8. www.bitc.org.uk 30 years + of experience 10,700 companies engaged in BITC campaigns 62 countries involved in change 850 member companies with a combined workforce of 17.8 million employees Business in the Community We stand for responsible business.

9. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk 850 member companies 1 in 5 of the UK private sector workforce are employed by our members

10. www.bitc.org.uk Community – Employment Our ambition is that everyone, particularly those with significant barriers to overcome, receives support from business to build the skills and confidence to gain and sustain employment.

11. www.bitc.org.uk Business has a significant role to play We believe employment is one of the most effective routes out of poverty and disadvantage. Doing Ready for Work has confirmed for me that I can be an excellent employee given the right opportunity. - Ready for Work graduate Through Ready for Work, businesses can make a transformational impact on peoples lives. Ready for Work offers great business benefits too.

12. www.bitc.org.uk Why would businesses want to get involved?

13. www.bitc.org.uk Understanding business motivation Personally motivated May want to give people a second chance May want to support their local community and make a difference to society Access a diverse pool of talent Fill roles that are ordinarily difficult to fill Provide training and development for staff through employee volunteering opportunities To be, and to be seen as actively contributing to the communities where they operate, making an investment in these communities Winning contracts – they have to do it (social value etc) Engaging their supply chain

14. www.bitc.org.uk Our impact since 2001 7,446 people have been supported by Ready for Work and 3,041 have gained employment to date. 40%+ of people who complete work placements enter employment. 59% sustain employment for at least six months. We aim to support 4,000 people into work by 2016

15. www.bitc.org.uk What is Ready for Work? A four stage programme with businesses engaged throughout... Registration Pre- placement training Work Placement Post- placement support Businesses must not underestimate the power of Ready for Work. The pleasure our people get from helping someone change their life is enormous and translates into building a motivated and loyal workforce. - Barry Quatermass, IMS Director, Carillion

16. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Pre- placement training What is Ready for Work? Day 1Day 2 IntroductionIntroduction – to Business Volunteers Ice Breaker Ground RulesTransferable Skills Self Awareness (hopes & fears)Energiser Comfort ZoneInterview Skills People SkillsHead in the Clouds Feet on the Ground Energiser Placement Interviews Self Talk The Work Environment Client Story

17. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Work Placement What is Ready for Work? Pre Placement Allocating the Programme Coordinator Buddy to attend training Planning the Placement On Placement First Day & Induction Core Elements to Incorporate Monitoring Ending the Placement End of placement review meeting Linking with employment opportunities Signposting

18. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Post- placement support What is Ready for Work? Job Coaching 1 to 1 Support with a trained business volunteer Regular meetings for up to 6 months Client led – training, volunteering, employment Ready for Work Clubs Weekly/Fortnightly Drop in Sessions Business Volunteers on hand to support you Business Starting to use to run recruitment sessions Employment Workshops Behind the Scenes Employment Skills Workshops Financial/Disclosure Workshops

19. www.bitc.org.uk Ready for Work Participant criteria summary They have recently experienced homelessness or are they at risk (we use the hidden homelessness definition). Participants will also face multiple barriers to work, for example, a past experience of homelessness, care, asylum, unspent convictions and / or substance misuse. Their accommodation needs to be stable for the entire duration of the programme. Any issues (such as mental health, alcohol or substance abuse) need to be under control for a sustained period (min 3 months) & will not affect their ability to work They are enthusiastic about work and keen to gain workplace skills through a combination of training, a work placement and post-placement support. Over 18 years old, are unemployed and have the right to work in the UK They can communicate, read and write in English

20. www.bitc.org.uk Ready for Work - recap Registration Pre- placement training Work Placement Post- placement support Ready for Work teams support the businesses and participants every step of the way. We understand the business perspective so they can support Ready for Work participants in the most effective way. We train businesses in their volunteer roles to ensure people get the support they need while on placement or working with a job coach We work with our employer network to ensure we link to job opportunities such as new sites, stores, supply chain.

21. www.bitc.org.uk Be part of the solution My friends and family have noticed how much happier I have been since I got back to work. I now feel much more part of society, like I am making a difference to something. - Ready for Work participant The most satisfying part of my role is seeing a very nervous individual walking into our large organisation on their first day and then growing with confidence and eagerness to learn as the placement progresses. The ultimate achievement is when we can offer someone a role and secure a better future for them with Royal Mail. - Jayne Parry, Recruitment Advisor, Royal Mail and site co- ordinator for Ready for Work

22. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk December 2012 left prison on licence referred from probation for supported accommodation. Weekly sessions set up monitor his progress and support him with identified needs. Attendance of Anger Management courses and address his aggressive behaviour. IT courses to build up his skills set. He was referred to Enterprise, an organisation within local job centre that supports ex-offenders with placements/volunteering opportunities and employment. Enterprise referred him to BITCs Ready for Work programme for 2 week placement with Freshfields Law Firm in London. He undertook further voluntary admin work. August 2013: A secured a paid IT apprenticeship with Freshfields. October 2013: He gave a speech in the House of Commons at a BITC event. He spoke movingly about the support he had received, highlighting the issues he faced as ex-offender, the stigma hes overcome and through support he now believes he can work anywhere without feeling discriminated against March 2014: He is preparing to move into a social housing tenancy with support from his Riverside resettlement worker Case Study How volunteering & placements fit with other forms of support

23. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Ready for Work – the participants perspective Case Study

24. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk What barriers are there to people volunteering / doing work experiences? How can we overcome these barriers? How do you motivate your clients/ service users to feel motivated about volunteering? Group discussion

25. www.bitc.org.uk www.riverside.org.uk Feedback from groups