voluntary work scheme to gain experience.

maroon

i am currently on btea. for summer i want to do work experience but fas doesn't allow any shorter than 9 months, beside the company i would do it for is small and already has someone on WPP.

so if i'd do the voluntary work scheme for june july and august, i'd be obliged to look for work at the same time. does SW get any flexible in these schemes, i.e, if a student is making efforts to get experience in the direction of studying.

can i work part time while volunteering?

i will be calling job facilitator on monday to ask him all these questions, but was wonderring, since it's friday night, maybe someone here has got experience with social being flexible etc, and/or the voluntary work.

appreciate any help.

AntiRip

I would be interested in any answers myself as I'm starting college in September hopefully on btea.

What baffles me thought is that during the summer months you are expected to be looking for full time work but why would you when you're in the middle of a full time course?

maroon

possibly because during june july and august you are legally unemployed. working on btea doesn't affect your payment so actually you can work if it doesn't affect your attendance,for june july and august you have to sign and be genuinely looking for a job.once found one it's either full time or part time on yellow slips.

mairt86

just wondering if you had any look with fas as i am on the btea aswell and looking for some work for the summer even if it is volountary

maroon

Minimum work experience with fas is 9 months,so I had no luck with them. However I spoke to my local job facilitator and he was able to sort my case. I am starting the work experience in June.

I am not sure whether you are looking for something to improve your experience in the direction of your third level course, but I would advise you to contact either your local SW office, they are also very helpful if you'll explain what is that you want to do, or find out the contact for your local job facilitator-SW will provide you with the phone number-and speak to him/her.
Mind you, I had a place in mind when I went to the Social Welfare, so apply to places that you are interested in and then talk to SW.

Not sure if this is of any help.

Edit: If you will decide to do work experience, SW might let you keep your JSA, you will be going through the yellow dockets-possibly. If you will also find a part time job, you might have to sign the days that you working on the yellow slips. But you will find out for sure if you contact your SW office.

LegacyUser

thanks maroon il get on to them asap as i am having no luck finding paid work for the summer and don't want to be stuck at home when i can be getting some experience