A new paid midlife internship programme is launching aimed at workers who want to get into the charitable sector.
A new charity internship project will be launched in the summer to offer paid ‘midlife internships’ in charities.
Charity Interns, hosted by the NCVO and supported by partner organisations such as Alzheimer’s Society, will explore new routes into voluntary sector employment for people who may not have experience in the sector. An initial pilot programme will run between late 2023 and early 2024. It will involve up to six candidates being placed on a six-month paid internship with a charity.
The voluntary sector is currently facing recruitment challenges and skills shortages as well as ever-increasing demand, rising costs and falling income. The idea is that Charity Interns will help address these issues by tapping into a wider and potentially overlooked talent pool. The project will also support inclusion in the voluntary sector and counter negative stereotypes around older workers.
Recruitment specialists Charity People will help recruit interns for the pilot following the official recruitment launch in late June.
Maya Bhose, founder of Charity Interns and project lead, said: “In my 50s, after 25 years working in marketing and brand development, I knew that I wanted to work for a charity. But I really struggled to get on anyone’s radar because I didn’t have any charity experience – most job descriptions asked for that – and I didn’t have contacts in the voluntary sector. I soon realised my story of how hard it can be to switch into the voluntary sector was far from unique.
“The main motivation behind Charity Interns is to stop the waste of talent that is happening across all sectors and to do something practical to make older people visible to employers, help them extend their careers, and allow charities to benefit from their skills, knowledge and unique perspectives.”
Charity Interns will formally launch on 29th June 2023 when internship applications for the six-month pilot programme will open. For more information visit the Charity Interns website or email [email protected].
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