Yes that's another
Reason to avoid them.

Avoid who?

Totally disagree, it depends where you place yourself, I've seen a number of volunteers at my workplace end up getting employed, as long as you place yourself in the area you want to work in, get a qualification while volunteering or if you already have one, when a job comes up you have your foot in the door, management are more likely to employ you over an unknown, this doesn't work for every sector but it can't be dismissed across the board. Doing unpaid volunteering can be a stepping stone, as long as you aren't volunteering 5 days a week 9 to 5 and there is an end goal it can be a useful way of getting employed

If it's something that simply isn't going to get done otherwise and it is truly VOLUNTARY (forcing people into unpaid work with coercion and threats is not voluntary) then it's totally up to the individual. For example, a local mum here volunteers as a classroom / playground assistant at the primary school because she enjoys it, and it's been a godsend for them. The funding isn't there for someone to do it paid so it's not an issue of there being a paid position taken away.

If it's "you must volunteer or else" from the DWP, or having people work for free on things that should clearly be paid (like road maintenance ffs) then I am entirely against it.

And as mentioned before, I am against using cheap apprenticeships with meaningless qualifications in place of real minimum wage jobs. It's literally nothing more than an excuse to hire young people for less than minimum wage, and makes a mockery of the concepts of both minimum wage AND real apprenticeships with real qualifications at the end.

If you get a qualification that's a whole other thing. If you prove yourself as a volunteer and that company is genuinely looking to take on a paid member of staff, then a preferred method of in house recruitment is going to probably swing in your favour.

I work for a very large nationwide company and we never accept references for voluntary work, even if that voluntary work was about getting work experience for the position they are applying for. I've never really understood why but I know its not unusual.

Stick to expressing your own opinion, not mine thanks.

DR specifically said charity work not volunteering, there is a difference.
Charity work is not SMART, whereas unpaid internships, NVQ placements that sort of thing are.

OK Kizzy

"It's literally nothing more than an excuse to hire young people for less than minimum wage, and makes....."


TS there is nothing wrong with that
no young folks are harmed in any way.


TS Feel The Force

A Charity that is taking
a corrupt amount for Admin,


Thats who DR.
http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/foru...d.php?t=316713

any kind of voluteering is charity work isn't it? all I am saying is that if people used their brain and placed themselves in an a role where they could see themselves eventually getting a job it unpaid work can pay off, so all unpaid work is not a good or a bad thing, as with everything there are varying shades of grey, not sure why you need the need to speak for DR we had already covered this all by ourselves Mum

Also I think I have seen it all now a left leaning member saying doing charity work is not a good thing :umm2: what happened to our social conscience ....

No, not unless you are working for or on behalf of a charity, that's charity work.
I just wanted clarification is all, if there is the chance of a job at the end of it then I could see a reasoning as part of ongoing training/education ( although even unpaid internships are frowned upon) but this isn't the proposal here is it?
There is no job offer, just minimal training and a hiviz.

It's a difficult one, if it is putting someone out of a paid job, on the other hand if someone on job seekers had to give something back to the community say one day a week, they can gain valuable life lessons which can be taken into future employment, working as part of a team, building relationships, so it's not all about a job offer but something that can help the person in the future rather than sitting watching JK, so its a toughie and it depends on the work on offer and whether the person is being exploited or whether there is a genuine rationale behind it to help the person into work.

It's nothing to do with jobseekers either, maybe have a look at the link in the OP you're just clutching at straws here.

clutching at what straws :umm2: my bad I didn't read the link..

nah I wouldn't subscribe to that at all, sorry I pay enough tax not working for free on top, I await to see how many MPs and whether May will be out doing her bit though

if people actually do this it will just lead to more cuts in funding...

Stick to what you have said not what dr has said.:hehe:

The article is a load of tosh, I thought it was showing you the actual people doing the actual job, not the politics show discussing it.
The man shown actually doing the volunteer work was neither looking for payment or employment. He was happy to have something to do with his time whilst helping his community at the same time.
The council paid for all the gear he needed so he wasn't out of pocket.
Is this really any different to volunteers working in libraries to stop them shutting down, or people going into school to help out with reading etc..it's called community spirit, something to be praised not used as political propaganda.

Anyone that chooses to do unpaid work, effectively charity work, are free to do so. Admirable for those doing it purely through choice.

I also feel that those on benefits should be expected to do 'unpaid' work in return for their benefits. It should be a condition of claiming benefit.

ok but surely? min wage per hr worked should still apply..............

Mark L

It does show the guy doing it, he was happy to do it he wouldn't have offered otherwise, although that's not strictly the point.
You can't effectively close down a road like you can a library too.
This is what I'm trying to put across if they are relying on volunteers to do community based work then how is anyone in the community going to earn a living? :/

I'll do what I like :idc:

And so will everyone else hen.

I disagree with this. To claim any kind of unemployment benefit you have to provide 35 hours worth of jobsearch a week so where would you fit a 'voluntary' position? Unless you are suggesting that unemployed people should work longer hours than full time employers for a pittance?

Unpaid work should be a choice, not something forced on the unemployed when it won't benefit anyone but the companies using them for free labour.

Imagine having to get up in the morning to do an unpaid job to get your benefits for not having a job..:joker: