Skibbereen Jobseeker Resource Centre 2.48

Description
SKIBBEREEN JOBSEEKER RESOURCE CENTRE.

A Jobseeker Resource Centre offers free services to jobseekers to help them gain employment. The Jobseeker Resource Centres were set up and are funded through West Cork Development Partnership. JRCs are run by volunteers from the local community.

The JRC’s offer a number of services including:

Help with CVs and application forms
An activity programme (Active Career Track) to help consider alternative career paths
Information on training and other support
Signposting to other agencies
Current local job vacancies
Access to the internet and photocopying

The West Cork Development Partnership offers volunteers training and support to develop and deliver the local service. Currently, there are five centres open in West Cork, in Bandon, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Macroom and Skibbereen. Centres in Dunmanway and Castletownbere are under development and will open in 2014.

What do volunteers do?

Volunteers need to be able to commit to a few hours a week to run the centre and to support clients. This support could be as simple as giving access to the internet or the photocopier, putting jobs vacancies up on local noticeboards, directing someone to MABS or Citizens Information, or could involve working with an individual on a regular basis using the Active Career Track Programme (ACT). We do not expect volunteers to be experts in career guidance or job seeking. The main thing is that volunteers know where, and how, to access accurate and up to date information. Training and support is available to all volunteers.
What can volunteers gain from being involved?

If volunteers are jobseekers themselves, they will benefit from knowing the best way to go about looking for work and having access to all advertised vacancies. Also, everyone’s CV benefits from having current volunteering on it. Volunteering can provide structure and purpose for people, and is a great opportunity to meet new people locally.

Who can volunteer?

Anyone over the age of eighteen can volunteer at a Jobseeker Resource Centre. You can be employed or unemployed, as long as you are able to commit to one shift a week of two and a half or three hours.

In order to volunteer you will need some basic computer skills, such as Microsoft Office and the ability to use the internet. This is in order to access information and support for the people who drop in.

Each centre has a group of local volunteers who deliver the services. Some centres may also have a Tús or CE scheme placement. The person on placement’s duties, and relationship with the volunteers, may vary from centre to centre but in each case there will be clearly defined roles.

Will volunteering affect my Social Welfare payment?

Question: If I am on Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit will volunteering affect my welfare payments?

Answer from the Citizens information website:

“Voluntary work is a good way to keep active, learn new skills and get involved in your local community. You may do some unpaid work as a volunteer and keep your social welfare payment. However, you must continue to meet all the conditions attached to your payment.

Your Social Welfare Local Office will usually decide whether you can keep your social welfare payment and work as a volunteer.”