Seeing the full picture: how the voluntary and community sector supports people who are out of work

Introduction

This research explores how voluntary and community organisations support people who are out of work. It looks at the most effective, people-led techniques that they use to help people facing multiple barriers. It’s intended for funders, policymakers, and organisations designing employment support.

Findings

The research found that voluntary and community organisations play an important role in supporting people who are finding it difficult to find work. They complement the work of job centres, often supporting people who may need more help, for longer, or in more flexible formats than other services may be able to offer.

The research also found that:

• many community employment services are in places people are familiar with, like community and youth centres, knowing that some find formal environments intimidating

• the route from unemployment to a job can be long – it’s important that services are flexible, adapting support to what’s going on for that person

• one-to-one support is at the core of a well-supported employment journey – this is something that the voluntary sector does particularly well 

• many benefit from help even after they have found their first job, for example by helping people understand what’s expected of them in the workplace, how to manage time and deal with difficult situations