Volunteering within the social mobility space

Cath Brown of www.skilfulconversation.com is a member of pro-manchester’s Social Mobility Committee.  She is a Trustee of Reclaim, a Manchester based charity which supports working class young people and provides them with opportunities to get involved in leadership through campaigning.  She has produced a blog on volunteering within the social mobility space in Manchester on behalf of the committee.

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Volunteering in the context of Social Mobility as a topic could take this blog in a number of directions based on my own experience.

Then a shout-out on LinkedIn for others’ experiences brought lots of other thoughts, suggestions, warnings and success stories.  Thank you to everybody who responded to that.  It is greatly appreciated.

This blog is the edited version of the main take-aways with a number of shout-outs to organisations where you might be able to aim a donation or find a meaningful volunteering opportunity.

1. Volunteering should be meaningful for both the volunteer and the organisation or scheme

If it isn’t meaningful, it risks costing the organisation in time and money and causing boredom or disillusion in the volunteer.

For some organisations “meaningful” might mean that fundraising is a valuable part of what the volunteer (or corporate sponsor) can bring.

For others, hands-on time is the thing they need most.

And the key to finding out what is genuinely helpful for both sides – honest and open conversations help to avoid “tokenism”.

A great local scheme that deserves a mention here is Queen Bee Coaching which provides free leadership coaching to women whose circumstances would otherwise make that inaccessible or unaffordable. The coaches, the support team and everyone involved volunteers their time with a view to improving inclusion at a leadership level across Greater Manchester.

2. Everyone can find something meaningful to bring to the table

Jo Barber is a Fundraiser for GMYN, the Greater Manchester Youth Network and she explained that being able to pass on your own experience in the world of work and what to expect from a workplace or from university can, in itself, be useful for young people who, for whatever reason, haven’t been able to have those discussions around the dinner table.

Maybe you could train a football team, deliver a workshop or provide interview practice.  The possibilities are endless.

So, don’t be put off by thinking that you have nothing to offer. Find an organisation whose work interests you and have a conversation with them.

3. Volunteering can lead to unexpected destinations that can be mutually beneficial for improving social mobility but also for the volunteer and the organisation.

My volunteering journey has followed an unpredictable route, from “skill-sharing” (running workshops) with young working class campaigners at Reclaim, to joining their Board and, along the way, mentoring one of the most brilliant young women in Manchester today, Roukagia Afan, which has almost certainly been more rewarding for me than it has been for her.

(Roukagia is also now a co-chair of Young Manchester which provides opportunities to a diverse range of young people across Greater Manchester.)

Whilst I tell myself I am doing all of this because it’s important to me and because I want to give something back, in reality I get loads out of it and I’ve learned a lot that has helped me in my business also.

4. Providing support or mentorship to individuals can be a very effective way to help an individual to reach a previously inaccessible position.

Entering the workplace for the first time or after a period of absence or even homelessness can be incredibly difficult and, without support, verging on the impossible.

Similarly, many people see typically middle class professions such as law or accountancy as “out of reach” or closed off to them from a very early age.  As well as being a loss to the individual concerns that seems to me to be a very bad thing for those professions – the loss of potential talent is huge.

But, there are several schemes out there that can address these issues, putting people together who can make a difference.

In a previous role, Hannah Gough from Hollis was involved in a fantastic story about providing support, encouragement and practical help to a previously homeless job-hunter which was part of a scheme organised by Business in the Community.

You can read more about that story and the scheme here.  And Hollis are currently involved in Pathways to Property – another one to look at.

Other schemes that allow you to help individuals seeking to enter or re-enter work or gain information about and access to the professions include: Smart Works and the Sutton Trust’s Pathways to Law and many others I don’t have the space to list here.  There will be one that can find use for your talents, your time or your money.

And, if you’re thinking you don’t have time to volunteer, women can help Smart Works by donating the workwear and accessories you no longer need – that could make all the difference in somebody finding a new or better job.  (Thanks to Andrea James for all your help here).

5. Removing barriers to volunteering or participating is key

Volunteering or attending groups which aid social mobility can be impossible for those with limited funds at their disposal.

So providing expenses and thinking about accessibility when deciding on the time or format of the event is important for a scheme to be successful, including making everybody feel comfortable.  If you’re unsure about this ask the people you are trying to reach and monitor and manage these relationships as you would any other.

(Unfortunately a recent report from Reclaim highlights that working-class people are hidden or missing in some of the most influential think tanks and anti-poverty charities in the UK.  We have some way to go here but awareness is definitely increasing).

A date for your diary

If any of these ideas appeal to you, please go ahead and take the next step – get involved.  Find a scheme that interests you and have a conversation with them.

And the Social Mobility Committee will be hosting our first event on 19^th April 2023.  Please save the date and look out for further information in the new year.