Job Application Processes

Connect with an experienced company member and ask to learn from, volunteer with and shadow them.

Develop your own ideas and pitch them to an organisation. A well developed idea that lands well can lead to collaboration, sponsorship of the idea, or pitching together for funding.

Applying for a job and going through an interview is still available, and is often best done after building experience elsewhere. Charities Jobs is a website that lists many types of available jobs.

For youth work it is possible to pitch your services directly to a school or college through their safeguarding lead.

If you have built a relationship with a professional in the prison or mental health system, you can partner with them to deliver a service. This is best done by developing an idea and approaching them with it. Where a budget is available this can lead to paid work.

Organisations such as the Involvement Register and Recovery Colleges provide newsletters listing different organisations who may wish to hire those with lived experience.

Once trained and joining team meetings, you can put yourself forward to deliver existing courses or pitch ideas for your own.

Setting up a company involves registering the company, building a team, building policies, undergoing training, designing projects, fundraising, delivering projects, recruiting service users, buying materials, evaluating projects and building relationships with funders.