The pandemic has given many people time on their hands; they have been in situations where they cannot work and need to stay at home. Some people have turned to education to boost their skills and knowledge; some have found new hobbies and some have grown their families by getting a new pet. I for one have a new puppy, who is taking up more than my spare time!
Some people have volunteered, be it at a local food bank, for the NHS or calling lonely and vulnerable people, the list is endless. Whatever we have done during the lockdown, one thing is for sure; we have learnt loads, maybe met new people, learnt about our human behaviour, learned about ourselves and reflected on who we are as citizens.
However, volunteering is not new and not just needed during a pandemic. It’s something that I have found of great benefit throughout my career. From a young age, I was a cadet for the St. John Ambulance, volunteering my time at evening and weekends to provide first aid cover at events. Reflecting on this time, I do feel that this set me up for my career, as I developed leadership and soft skills that I have used all my life.
In collaboration with the CIPD, the Value of Volunteering report reveals the positive value that organisations can realise by supporting their staff to undertake Volunteering in schools and colleges. It shows that employers who support their team to volunteer have found employees to be more motivated, more productive and have a better sense of well-being.
The report pulls on research that our professional development benefits too:
In 2019 I signed up as a volunteer Enterprise Advisor for one of my local schools. Why? Being an Enterprise Advisor allows me to strategically support the school’s senior leadership team to develop and evaluate their careers plan. Providing a valuable employer’s perspective on how the school can embed labour market information and opportunities into the careers programme, and engaging with local businesses and employers in my network to put a wide variety of career opportunities at the heart of young people’s education.
The school I work with, St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School, is located in the Bexleyheath area of the London Borough of Bexley. The school has a fantastic career lead in Michael Barry and has excellent support from the headteacher, which leads to a whole-school approach to careers education. Whilst working with the school, we have delivered several important events, including the successful Virtual Careers Conference for Year 10.
With Thursday lunchtime dedicated to careers, we invited different people from the world of work to volunteer their time to pass on knowledge about their work areas. It has been inspiring for the students, and we have received positive feedback from them. It is not just students who have benefited, but parents also had their own virtual careers conference with over 70% staying on longer than planned for a Q&A session. It shows that with a bit of creative thinking, a bit of hard work and asking politely, we can fire our children’s imagination and influence both parents and students about the world of work. It is not just about imparting knowledge; it is about ensuring that learning is linked to improving that child’s future.
In December, I was lucky to have been awarded the Enterprise Advisor of the year by London’s Mayor. This was a reflection on the partnership built with the school and the positive impact we were able to make. The London Enterprise Adviser Network awards celebrate the contributions made by volunteer Enterprise Advisers, Careers Leaders and supporting businesses who have worked together over the past year to help young Londoners access the wide range of opportunities the Capital has to offer.
My experience as an Enterprise Advisor gave me an idea. In November 2020, I founded a new social enterprise company called Inspired Community Group, with a single aim to stimulate minds about future careers. At the heart of our work, will be volunteers who will be termed Motivators. The Motivators will be from the world of work, with lived experiences, who will be trained to work with schools and other target groups to deliver a powerful message about the world of work and the careers that they can imagine themselves doing one day.
Volunteers from the world of work help improve academic attainment at GCSE and increase young people’s earning potential. We broaden young peoples’ horizons and raise their aspirations, excite children about subjects, increase motivation, confidence, and learning attitude. We challenge gender and social stereotypes and reduce young people’s likelihood of becoming NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training).
To me, Volunteering is not just about giving time, and it’s about a two-way learning experience. We are learning from each other, passing our knowledge and expertise. In turn, it makes us all better citizens, improves social mobility, and makes a difference to everyone.
As the hospitality sector starts to recover, the need for homegrown talent will again be up the plan and finding that talent begins now. Working with your local school to inspire young people about our industry has never been more critical as the race for talent has started. Let’s not be left behind other sectors working hard to attract that talent.
Seek out volunteering opportunities, be it as an Enterprise Advisor, a Motivator for Inspired, a mentor with the Institute of Hospitality or whatever you choose to do. To me, it’s about how Volunteering can help you and the wider society.
Sam Coulstock FIH is CEO & Founder of Inspired Community Group CIC. Connect with Sam on LinkedIn.
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