Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking at (a) national and (b) regional level to support effective working relationships between jobcentres and charity retailers in the placement of volunteers in charity shops.

Jobcentre Plus (JCP) employer and partner facing staff tailor their approach according to each location. A key part of their role is to promote volunteering and the Work Together initiative, and to engage on a regular basis with the voluntary sector, including charity retailers/shops to identify opportunities.

• The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) has 10 of the largest charity retailers on its portfolio including the British Heart Foundation, Mind and Scope.
• Between them these organisations have over 3,500 outlets bringing in over 62,000 volunteering and work experience opportunities across a range of job roles.
• Stores are nationwide so each district will have a variety of charities to choose from.
• The charities are happy to welcome all customers regardless of age or benefit.
• NEPT broker national agreements with the charities, encouraging each organisation to support Government initiatives.
• NEPT cascade these agreements through Jobcentre Plus District Managers to the local jobcentres so that work coaches can talk to their customers about the range of opportunities on offer.
• The cascaded information will detail specific opportunities e.g. volunteer campaigns, qualifications, new store openings, role specific campaigns.
• NEPT will also encourage and support regular and ongoing communication between local outlets and individual Jobcentre Plus offices
• At a District level Jobcentre Plus Employer Advisers also actively identify and engage with local employers and charitable organisations to source work experience opportunities.