The loaves and fishes job market

Interesting news about a new service which enables organisations to sell the time of their staff.

Called StaffShare, http://www.staffshare.co.uk/home/index.html it allows organisations to register individuals, who could be under-utilised or at risk of redundancy, on a website offering their services on short- or medium-term secondment basis. Organisations interested in an employee, which will initially be restricted to charities and the voluntary sector, can then buy their services for the selected period through the website.

The scheme has been welcomed by the TUC with general secretary Brendan Barber commenting: “StaffShare is part of a new approach that is needed if we are to avoid the waste of talent and human tragedies that occur if companies rush prematurely into redundancies when conditions start to get tough. This will keep people in employment while allowing third sector organisations to draw on specialist expertise.”

StaffShare is a fully automated interactive system, which allows organisations to sell and buy the time of skilled professionals including, but not exclusive to Financial Controllers, HR Managers, Marketing Executives, IT Professionals, Web Designers and Grant Writers.

We think it’s a great idea and one that should be seized upon by all sectors in respect of all types and levels of jobs. It could, on a long-term basis, solve many of the problems of older workers and the gap which exists between our wants and needs for work (i.e. generally to work longer but on a more flexible basis) and those of employers (who want us, if at all, to work full-time and then retire – generally early).

But no doubt such a scheme would be beset with tax, pensions, health and safety and goodness knows what other bureaucratic issues which ultimately would strangle it in its infancy.

At the very least let’s hope this idea is only the start of a whole raft of recession inspired schemes about how to share out work and rewards more fairly and profitably for all. If this happened, and some were adopted, the recession could be ultimately a very good thing.

Hands around the world

We are constantly amazed and impressed by the range of activities that in my primers embark upon both at home and abroad and the huge amount they contribute to society as a result. This month we feature details of a project in Uganda which is not only improving the situation of an entire community but, on a personal level, is enriching the lives of the volunteers who participate in the project. Jenny, one of the project volunteers, tells her story:

“This time last year I decided to join a project team going to the village of Siriba in Uganda in January 2008 for the charity Hands Around the World. The purpose of the project was to build a classroom block next to Siriba’s existing primary school and so provide space for vocational training (carpentry, brickwork, tailoring) for youngsters who have completed primary education (often a few years later than in the UK) but whose families cannot afford the costs of secondary school.  In fact a large number of the youngsters are orphans who have come south in recent years to escape the ongoing rebel activity in the north of the country – they have almost nothing except the goodwill of extended family or complete strangers who have taken them in.

Well, the January 2008 project team worked with local volunteers to build the classroom block and now it is now being put to some use.  But it isn’t fully complete or equipped yet and also the classrooms of the existing primary school are in a dreadful state - partly through lack of funds and partly because they are used by four or five times as many children as originally intended.  They desperately need substantial repairing and one block needs a roof!

So what’s happening now? Currently Hands Around the World is recruiting a small team from Hertfordshire to go to Siriba in August 2009 for four weeks.  The team will raise funds for the project and travel to Siriba to work alongside volunteers from the local community.  If you or anyone you know may be interested in a challenging and life-changing experience  all ages are being considered, as well as all levels of building experience (although building and DIY skills are extremely useful!).  Volunteers will also need to have enthusiasm for fundraising during the first half of 2009 – as a team and/or individually.”

For more information about the charity and its projects visit the Hands Around the World website (www.hatw.org.uk) or email Jenny (jennifer@jwiles4.wanadoo.co.uk) for details of the information and team selection day planned for Sunday 23rd November in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.