The Department for Work and Pensions supports the Volunteering Options Project which Volunteer Development Scotland in partnership with local volunteering agencies across Scotland.
The Volunteering Options project is a UK wide initiative announced by Government Ministers in January 2009 to offer additional support for Jobseekers. The project gives individuals who have been claiming jobseekers allowance for 6 months the opportunity to volunteer to increase their employability.
Personal Advisers in Jobcentres refer customers to VDS, who undertake a broker interview with dedicated staff, identifying what activities they might be interested in, based on their existing skills, any new skills they want to learn, their availability and their interests. VDS then pass the customers’ details to 6 Volunteer Centres across Scotland providing a local service matching customers into opportunities within 10 days of the broker interview.
Many customers referred to the programme have not worked for a significant time, due to poor health or caring responsibilities, and have sometimes struggled to see how volunteering can help them to increase their employability. Others referred to the programme have very high skills and aspirations for their volunteering which are equally challenging to meet.
For more information please contact volunteeringoptions@vds.org.uk or please look at the
Volunteering Options leaflet.