Kettering Jobcentre to host Volunteer Fair for National Volunteers Week

Residents in Kettering are being encouraged to give back to their community and explore new opportunities at a Volunteer Fair taking place at Kettering Jobcentre.

The event will be held on Wednesday 3 June, from 10am to 12pm at Kettering Jobcentre (NN16 8BG) as part of National Volunteers Week and is open to the public.

A wide range of local organisations will be attending, including KCU, Serve, Kettering Mind, British Heart Foundation, Citizens Advice, Northamptonshire Association for the Blind and Support North Northants. Training providers Tresham College and Kettering Learning Centre will also be on hand to promote courses to help people build skills alongside volunteering.

Visitors can find out about a variety of roles, from community support and befriending to retail, administration, gardening, fundraising and wellbeing activities. Many opportunities are flexible and do not require formal qualifications, with training provided.

Volunteering is known to boost confidence, improve wellbeing and help people gain valuable skills to enhance their CV and employment prospects.

Employer Adviser Sarah from Kettering Jobcentre said: “Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you can give a little time or a lot, there is something for everyone, and it could even open the door to future employment. Many of our customers who have tried volunteering have successfully progressed into employment.”

Jobcentre Plus continues to support local communities by connecting jobseekers with opportunities and helping employers find job-ready candidates.

There are currently over 1,150 vacancies across Northamptonshire, making it an ideal time for people to explore new roles.

Julie Pritchard, from the Northamptonshire Employer and Partnership Team, added:

“Work Coaches tell us there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone succeed. Through events like this and our strong partnerships with local organisations, we are helping people build confidence, gain new skills and take positive steps towards employment.”

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, said: “Today’s figures show there were 416,000 more people in work than there was this time last year. While this is encouraging, we know global challenges continue to impact the labour market.

Boosting opportunity and tackling youth unemployment in every area remains our priority, and through our Jobs Guarantee we are helping young people into work, while engaging employers to ensure they have the skilled workforce that they need.”

The Volunteer Fair offers a welcoming opportunity for anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering, gaining experience, or connecting with local organisations in the community.