Disability charity Sense is the latest organisation expected to withdraw from the government’s mandatory work activity scheme, as a campaign group plans to have a day of action against charities it believes take part in unpaid work schemes.
In a statement, Sense said a small number of people on the mandatory work activity (MWA) scheme had undertaken unpaid work experience in Sense’s charity shops, but this was now under review and it expected to withdraw.
It joins a long line of charities who have withdrawn from the scheme which sees people on unemployment benefits undertake unpaid work experience or lose their benefits.
A Sense spokeswoman said: “Some of the participants have made a great contribution to the charity shops and have genuinely gained from the experience. However, we do not agree with the mandatory aspect of the scheme and hope to find other ways to make volunteering and work experience opportunities available to people who would benefit from them.”
DWP refuses to publicise charities involved
The Department for Work and Pensions has insisted that work experience for people on Employment and Support Allowance is “completely voluntary”, except where claimants “refuse to take reasonable steps to address a barrier to work”. In that case, it said, “a short, appropriate, mandatory work placement – which must take the claimant’s health into account – would be helpful”.
It added that it was “grateful for the continued support of the wider charitable sector in helping unemployed people re-engage with the system and move closer to work”.
DWP has resisted an order from the Information Commissioner’s Office to publish the names of all charities and businesses that provide mandatory work-experience placements.
The ICO ruled that the names should be released back in August last year but DWP has appealed, arguing in legal documents leaked to The Guardian that publishing the list would render the programme unworkable because of likely protests against the organisations involved.
‘Name and shame’ charities
However, campaign group Boycott Workfare, which is protesting against mandatory work activity and other similar schemes, has collated a list of charities which it believes are involved in such schemes and has requested that people ‘name and shame’ more charities on its website.
The list currently includes YMCA, the RSPCA and the Salvation Army. These charities told civilsociety.co.uk that they had no national agreement in place with the scheme, but member organisations have been involved with it at a local level.
Sue Ryder and the Conservation Volunteers both defended their involvement in back-to-work programmes involving unpaid work experience. A Sue Ryder spokeswoman said: “We are participating in these schemes because we believe that volunteering is a valuable stepping stone to secure paid employment.” While, a TCV (the Conservation Volunteers) spokesman commented: “We believe that our activities make a positive difference for thousands of people each year.”
Haven House Children’s Hospice also said its involvement in back-to-work schemes was beneficial for all concerned, but it was reviewing its involvement going forward.
Children’s charity Barnardo’s also featured on the list. But Gerard Cousins, its director of retail and trading, said: “Barnardo’s does not take part in mandatory work experience programmes.
“We are committed to providing people with the skills and experience needed to gain paid employment through our volunteering initiatives.” Barnardo’s is running an initiative with KFC where young adults gain unpaid work experience in the fast-food chain’s stores.
A Community Service Volunteers spokeswoman said it has never been involved in the government’s mandatory work activity scheme and was mistakenly on the list.
PDSA and St Oswald’s Hospice did not respond to enquiries.
Day of protest
A spokeswoman from Boycott Workfare said the group was planning a day of protest against charities involved in mandatory work activity in March. Previous protests by the group have included the occupying of charity shops and leafleting outside charities.
