Could a community work exchange help people find employment & skills?

Working with people across Cornwall, we have co-designed a service that brings people who are at risk of redundancy, unemployed or looking for an employment change together to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, skills, services, advice and positivity. New Work Exchange is a "community hub" where individuals use the resource of the community to help meet their employment goals, increase their employment prospects and quality of life.

We envisage that "new work exchange" hubs could be online and/or within existing community facilities such as job centres, libraries or colleges.

This new service aims to address the main aspects that are missing from conventional skills and employment support channels.

Skills Exchange:

Individuals can exchange skills and services amongst a community using a credit system based on time, this can be used by individuals to gain skills in new areas of interest, as a way of updating skills relevant to employment or as a means of accessing free services.

Positive Mentoring:

Individuals can arrange to meet with a mentor; this can be anyone from a life coach to the local electrician, the two individuals arrange a meeting where the mentor can provide the individual with advice in an informal relaxed manner, this might be insights into an industry, advice from someone who has been in their position or just some positive thinking. A mentor shares their advice and in return receives time credits.

Advice Events:

These are events where a group or individuals in similar circumstances and interests can come together in an informal and friendly space and share advice and experiences. Events could be organized by shared interest or location groups.

Professional Connections:

One of the key innovations of the website is that each individual has their own profile which records their activity on the site and can link with business and support providers. This provides an additional level of support, matching up those in need of support with providers; and giving businessa direct link to a pool of potential candidates, providing an opportunity to headhunt talent

Information:

As well as these core-sharing functions the site will also provide a means for discussion and sharing of digital content, which would provide the chance for individuals to share their stories, tips and things that inspire them. A key feature of the service we wish to develop is a radio show which focuses on employment issues, a panel of experts answer questions submitted by listeners as part of a weekly show.

For more information about this project - please watch our video

http://vimeo.com/seacommunications/innovation-in-giving