The Volunteering Award Shortlist

Outreach Programme, Ministry of Defence

Working in some of the most diverse and challenging communities across the UK, the MOD's award-winning Education Outreach Programme and team of MOD volunteers instils lifelong skills in students studying in a number of Sixth Form and FE Colleges. Over half the students supported do not have English as their first language and over 100 nationalities and languages are present.

Engaging with students through curriculum, personal development and employability skills support in the classroom and in 'taster' visits to Whitehall, over 2,500 students annually – many of whom are designated 'at risk' – improve their chances of finding employment through training, and receiving insight into the workings of a large employer. Many of the students have never visited an employer or participated in work experience.

Over 40 MOD staff, military and civilian, from SCS to junior grades, volunteer and adopt a college to mentor and host students, give specialist talks in the classroom, host CV workshops, sifting and selection exercises and provide mock interviews with feedback. The programme has run since 2001 and won the 2009 Race For Opportunity mentoring award, the 2010 Civil Service HR Learning and Development Award, and an MBE for Programme Manager Andy Gillman.