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Call to create charity posts for jobless Call to create charity posts for jobless
(about 21 hours later)
By Anna-Louise Taylor BBC News Unemployed people could end up building flood defences under the planBy Anna-Louise Taylor BBC News Unemployed people could end up building flood defences under the plan
In a recession, with bills to pay and mouths to feed, would you work for a charity for free if you found yourself out of a job? In a recession, with bills to pay and mouths to feed, would you work for a charity for nothing if you found yourself out of a job?
With unemployment hitting a 12-year high, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) has suggested charities in growth industries, like environmental protection, could provide 500,000 jobs with up to £350m government investment.With unemployment hitting a 12-year high, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) has suggested charities in growth industries, like environmental protection, could provide 500,000 jobs with up to £350m government investment.
Under the plan, some posts would be paid but many others would other no salary - instead being pitched at jobseekers as a chance to learn valuable and marketable new skills without having to pay for training courses. Under the plan, some posts would be paid but many others would offer no salary - instead being pitched at jobseekers as a chance to learn valuable and marketable new skills without having to pay for training courses.
But is this really feasible?But is this really feasible?
Stephen Bubb, ACEVO's chief executive thinks so. ACEVO's chief executive Stephen Bubb thinks so.
"People think of charity work as helping with the hospital trolley, which is nice but not very productive."People think of charity work as helping with the hospital trolley, which is nice but not very productive.
"They should think of it as free retraining." People think of charity work as helping with the hospital trolley Stephen Bubb, ACEVO chief executive"They should think of it as free retraining." People think of charity work as helping with the hospital trolley Stephen Bubb, ACEVO chief executive
Richard Ireland, a 19-year-old IT network consultant from Brighton, has just been made redundant.Richard Ireland, a 19-year-old IT network consultant from Brighton, has just been made redundant.
"If it was paid, I'd work for a charity, but there are no benefits if it was unpaid.""If it was paid, I'd work for a charity, but there are no benefits if it was unpaid."
He is prepared to work in retail, but is not prepared to take a voluntary position, even if it does mean "free retraining".He is prepared to work in retail, but is not prepared to take a voluntary position, even if it does mean "free retraining".
Mr Bubb's idea of government investment in areas like environmental sustainability, conservation projects and urban spaces, flood prevention, home energy and home services would create volunteering opportunities as well as some full and part-time paid jobs. Mr Bubb's idea of government investment in areas like environmental sustainability, conservation projects and urban spaces, flood prevention, home energy and home services would create volunteering opportunities as well as some full- and part-time paid jobs.
While it might cost as much as £350m, these sectors have huge gaps in their workforces and by helping create new positions, the government would also fulfil many social and green objectives, he said.While it might cost as much as £350m, these sectors have huge gaps in their workforces and by helping create new positions, the government would also fulfil many social and green objectives, he said.
The cost could be justified as supporting more than two million people on unemployment benefit and the cost to the economy of having high unemployment figures would be much greater, he said.The cost could be justified as supporting more than two million people on unemployment benefit and the cost to the economy of having high unemployment figures would be much greater, he said.
Owen Bednall lost his job at the BMW plant in Cowley in mid-FebruaryOwen Bednall lost his job at the BMW plant in Cowley in mid-February
"Instead of concentrating on old industries, the government should invest in growth industries," he said."Instead of concentrating on old industries, the government should invest in growth industries," he said.
"The third [charity] sector has a higher turnover than the car industry and employs more staff than the banking and finance sector."The third [charity] sector has a higher turnover than the car industry and employs more staff than the banking and finance sector.
"The government has bailed those industries out - it should now put us at the forefront of the action - instead of the margins.""The government has bailed those industries out - it should now put us at the forefront of the action - instead of the margins."
But would a former IT security consultant want to "retrain" with a charity to carry out work on public buildings to improve their fuel efficiency?But would a former IT security consultant want to "retrain" with a charity to carry out work on public buildings to improve their fuel efficiency?
Allan Pilkington from Preston said he would do anything - he has already considered becoming a plumber. It's very difficult staying at home Allan PilkingtonAllan Pilkington from Preston said he would do anything - he has already considered becoming a plumber. It's very difficult staying at home Allan Pilkington
The 61-year-old was made redundant from BAE Systems, and his wife has also lost her job at a local authority.The 61-year-old was made redundant from BAE Systems, and his wife has also lost her job at a local authority.
They have already thought about doing voluntary service overseas.They have already thought about doing voluntary service overseas.
"It's very difficult staying at home," Mr Pilkington said."It's very difficult staying at home," Mr Pilkington said.
"I work in an industry where if you don't keep up with it, you're dead in the water."I work in an industry where if you don't keep up with it, you're dead in the water.
"I can do other things. I'm not stupid.""I can do other things. I'm not stupid."
He has considered retraining, but was told at the job centre that he was "too old".He has considered retraining, but was told at the job centre that he was "too old".
He said he and his wife were not counted in the official unemployment statistics.He said he and his wife were not counted in the official unemployment statistics.
"I'd just like to be counted and know that I'm in that number - it's like I no longer exist."I'd just like to be counted and know that I'm in that number - it's like I no longer exist.
"I'm still paying tax on my pension and council tax, but I just don't exist anymore." "I'm still paying tax on my pension and council tax, but I just don't exist any more."
Mr Bubb said under his plan people like Mr Pilkington and others out of work for more than six months would be able to apply for a range of opportunities.Mr Bubb said under his plan people like Mr Pilkington and others out of work for more than six months would be able to apply for a range of opportunities.
And one way of attracting jobseekers into unpaid work would be for the government to allow them to keep claiming benefits and offer a charity work payment on top.And one way of attracting jobseekers into unpaid work would be for the government to allow them to keep claiming benefits and offer a charity work payment on top.
That, he feels, could help attract the long-term unemployed who regularly cite the fear of losing vital benefits for their reluctance to try something new in the hunt for a new career.That, he feels, could help attract the long-term unemployed who regularly cite the fear of losing vital benefits for their reluctance to try something new in the hunt for a new career.