Dr Mike Nussbaum, former chair of Volunteering England and third sector appointed as chair of the Expert Volunteer Initiative’s national working group.
Volunteer case study Dr Mike Nussbaum
He said: “I am delighted to be chairing this working group as this initiative will help to build a framework that will change lives. As a
potential so I know how important an initiative like this is.
“In any community helping one another is the glue that helps those communities develop so tapping into the skills and experience of local people to support their neighbours into work is a challenge I am really looking forward to.”
Jehangir Mehentee, 47, was a performance management director in his last role. Now, he coaches jobseekers at CDG as a volunteer, passing on his experience and mentoring them towards employment.
Jehangir: “I’d worked in the pharmaceutical industry for about twenty years, and had already been coaching people in change management at my last company, but in 2010 I set up my own coaching and mentoring business.
“I made a conscious decision to spend the rest of of my time should be devoted to helping others help themselves, so I volunteer for CDG at its Guildford centre, where I see jobseekers from 9am until 5pm, one day a week.
“I’m a graduate of The Coaching Academy, and responded to an advert on its website last August. By the autumn, and after a CRB check, I was volunteering formally with the charity.
they’re great. CDG’s personal advisors refer jobseekers to me and I see them for about an hour at a time, although the length of time varies depending on their needs. I could be seeing the same person every week for 12 weeks, but the average number of appointments I will have with them is six.
“I focus on coaching the jobseekers, but my counselling and mentoring skills are required in some situations. The type of activity varies according to the jobseeker, too, and can range from sessions where the jobseeker does all the talking to more goal-focused conversations. I can
also be more directive if needed and suggest which options they could explore next and how to go about that.
“It’s satisfying to see jobseekers moving forward, and for me to be coaching them after starting the relationship on a more directive note. Some people arrive in a negative frame of mind but often
they just need an empathetic ear and someone to listen they talk and I enjoy understanding other people’s
“The journey jobseekers travel is one of returning to self-acceptance because up until they lost their job, they widen their perspective of the kind of work they could pursue. I think you can apply the saying ‘when one teaches, two learn’ to volunteering. You can’t help being affected by the process and through gaining new insights about others and yourself.
“I’ve coached quite a few jobseekers to date. Most of keep in contact with as many as possible after they have left CDG, to touch base and, if required, offer support.”
CDG Annual Review 2010/11
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