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13/01/12 Volunteering - Gateway to employment

When unemployed Shahnaj Faulker approached Basildon Council for volunteering opportunities, little did she know that she would end up meeting boxing champion Frank Bruno and getting two job offers!

Through its links with local community groups the Council was able to put Shahnaj in touch with the Basildon Disability Forum who was looking for volunteers for last month’s Basildon Mental Health Conference “Time to Talk and Time to Change” at the new Green Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park.

Although Shahnaj had recently completed a degree course, she had been looking for work for months with no success. By helping to co-ordinate and project manage the conference she gained confidence in communicating with people and the much needed work experience needed to land herself two jobs.

Shahnaj said: “Before volunteering I did not have any confidence in dealing with or talking to people, which I think came across in my interviews.

“By volunteering at the conference I got to meet new people and gain confidence and work experience which helped me to get two part time jobs as a nutritionist.

“As an added bonus, I also got to meet boxing champ Frank Bruno who was the guest speaker at the conference!”

Cabinet member for Community, Cllr Andrew Baggott, said: “Volunteering is an excellent avenue to finding employment and a lot of community groups lack the human resources to deliver projects even though they have great ideas.

“Joining a forum can help link residents up with volunteering opportunities, especially by getting involved with community groups the Council supports.”

For more information contact shamrika.sydes@basildon.gov.uk or call 01268 294329.

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