Volunteering and Work Experience FAQs | National Careers Service

No — you can do as much work experience as you like and still claim benefits. Also, if you claim expenses for lunch it won't be taken out of your benefits. You need to inform your benefits adviser what work experience you're doing.

However, if you're claiming Jobseeker's Allowance you'll still be expected to stick to the conditions of the benefit agreement, which means looking for paid work and attending interviews.

Some work experience opportunities only require you to commit for a couple of hours a week or a month. Even if you work full-time and have a busy schedule, you should be able to find something to suit you.

No, but for insurance reasons there may be some restrictions for young people under 16 or people over 65.

It shouldn’t. Most of the time you will get your out-of-pocket expenses paid, such as travel, food and equipment. Although you're not earning a wage, don't forget doing work experience can lead to a paid job. If you're enthusiastic, work hard and people get to know you, you will be in with a better chance when paid jobs do come up.

For some work experience opportunities you may need specialist skills, such as book-keeping if you want to manage the finances of an organisation. However, for many opportunities you don't need any particular skills or experience - you just need to be genuinely enthusiastic, and willing to work hard and learn.

If you're unsure what you've got to offer, think about the skills you've developed in your personal life, such as looking after children or organising social events. There is likely to be a work experience opportunity where you can use these skills.

Many volunteer organisations will offer you training when you start, so you won't be thrown in at the deep end.

If it is a cause or a service you feel strongly about and feel that something should be available locally, think about setting up your own organisation. That's how most existing volunteer organisations started up — by people with the passion, commitment and belief to make it happen.

You could be inspired by anything from the closure of a local school to the lack of a support network for young mothers. Whatever the cause, a volunteer group can make a difference. But do your research first — make sure no-one else is already doing the work you want to do. Contact your local council to see if there's anyone who can help you get started.

If you've decided you want to go for it and set up your own charity, there's loads of info on the Charity Commission website.

• Charity Commission

Yes — for details click on the correct website in the following section: Finding the right work experience opportunity.

As an unpaid worker you can leave whenever you like if you're not enjoying it or getting the benefit or experience you thought it would provide. Before deciding to leave, it might be a good idea to talk to someone in your organisation who might be able to suggest something else.

It's polite to give the organisation a decent amount of notice (a couple of weeks at least) so they can make arrangements for when you leave.

Many organisations will try to get you the support you need. If you need support, be clear about this from the start so they can make the necessary arrangements. Of course you don't necessarily need to do work experience for a disabled organisation; your skills and experience could be useful in any organisation.

You can get more info on volunteering and doing work experience as a person with disabilities on the Do-it! website.

• Do-it!

There is no such thing as a typical day! You only need to look at the range of work experience opportunities to see that every one is different. You could be helping to produce a TV programme or be out in the woods planting trees. It depends on you, your choice and the time you put in. Remember, too, that you could be living away from home by going on a working holiday or working abroad.

With most work experience opportunities you'll find:

• friendly and enthusiastic permanent staff and volunteers;
• you usually get given responsibility early, so you'll get something to get your teeth into;
• you get to see your work making a real difference in the community;
• many volunteering organisations are small, and need people who can do many things - so you'll get experience in many different types of work.