Uni programme aiming to help city's unemployed

A project aimed at helping unemployed people in Cambridge get work using a concept called "reverse volunteering" has received a funding boost.

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is one of six universities due to receive a share of £60,000 from Research England's National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) programme.

The money will be used to fund a pilot project which will see local people invited to volunteer at ARU's Cambridge campus alongside staff members who will act as mentors.

The scheme will see participants learn how to write a CV, search for jobs, and submit applications, with the hope of then being able to secure employment opportunities.

It is led by ARU's Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE) programme, which empowers pupils to develop ideas that solve real issues in local communities.

The university is also working with a range of other partners, including charity Abbey People, which strives to improve the lives of residents of the Abbey/Newmarket Road area of the city.

Neale Daniel, SHoKE programme manager, said: "As a part of ARU's strategic and civic responsibilities in nurturing vibrant university communities, this Research England funding will transform an idea into reality by helping long-term unemployed individuals re-enter the workforce.

"We look forward to collaborating with Abbey People, a community charity, and engaging enthusiastic ARU staff volunteers to provide mentoring and employability support."

Nicky Shepard, chief exec of Abbey People, said: "We are pleased to be working with ARU on this initiative aiming to help people from Abbey gain confidence and experience with university jobs, getting them one step closer to meaningful work, as part of our Abbey Works pilot project."

Gemma Adams, meanwhile, project manager from the NCIA Action Learning Process, said she was looking forward to seeing "the lessons and learning that develops" through the scheme.

Research England is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

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