Aims
To engage with 20,000 individuals from the most deprived boroughs in London and a further 15,000 across the UK through providing a five year programme that offers a creative, learning environment, supporting them in gaining a tailor made qualification. This will enable them to apply to become volunteers at the 2012 London Olympics Games and Parlympic Games.
To raise the profile of volunteering amongst those furthest away from the labour market, so it is seen as a way of improving skills, knowledge and experience and a route into employment as part of the lasting legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Objectives:
To address the high levels of unemployment through provide training to qualification level that increases the skills of participants, which will enhance their chances of acquiring long-term employment opportunities.
To provide equitable access to volunteer for the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games in 2012 and increasing the national pool of volunteers for future events.
Key Elements of Personal Best:
- The engagement process through Personal Best Advisors who work with specialist local support agencies to provide appropriate support and services while volunteering.
- A nationally accredited tailor-made Level 1 qualification.
- Award ceremonies to celebrate and recognise achievements
- Guaranteed Interview to be a Games Time Volunteer in 2012
- Continued support and communication through a Personal Best graduate group
- Information, advice and guidance offered to all who participate in Personal Best
- Local employers will offer job placement schemes and provide support with job interview training
- The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has guaranteed that 10% of volunteers from Personal Best will be offered roles as volunteers at the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Training
The qualification consists of 7 x 10 hour units, 1 x 20 hour unit and 1 x 30 hour unit.
The units are as follows:
| Unit Number | Unit Title | Unit Length |
| 1 | Volunteering and the Olympics | 10 hours |
| 2 | Becoming a volunteer | 10 hours |
| 3 | Understanding equality and diversity | 10 hours |
| 4 | Understanding effective customer relations | 10 hours |
| 5 | Emergencies and basic fire awareness | 10 hours |
| 6 | Public safety | 10 hours |
| 7 | Introduction to conflict resolution in a public setting | 10 hours |
| 8 | Developing team and interpersonal skills | 20 hours |
| 9 | Preparing for and reflecting on a volunteer placement | 30 hours |
Target Groups and Eligibility
The programme is aimed at people who are far away from the labour market and workless communities. It is not targeted at those 'furthest' from the labour market with extreme and multiple needs.
Target groups:
- Unemployed for > 18 months (over 24 and less than 50)
- Unemployed for < 6 months (18 - 24 or over 50)
- People eligible for or in receipt of incapacity benefits
- Unemployed BME groups
- People aged over 50
- Ex-offenders
- Homeless people in sheltered accommodation
NM Unemployed does not have to be registered unemployed.
For all of the above target groups the following eligibility applies:
- Must not have a level 2 qualification or above*
- Must have entry level 2 or above literacy skills
- Must be resident in London
- Must be eligible for work in the UK
NB - where a person is within one of the target groups and has a qualification at level 2 or above, they may still be eligible for the programme where there is proven need for them to undertake a lower level qualification as a way for them to restore their confidence and gain new skills to assist them to progress.
NB: These criteria are subject to confirmation by the LSC and Jobcentre Plus
List of London Volunteer Centres
