Work experience

Voluntary experience is highly valued by many prospective employers, including this authority. Please note, however, that anyone who volunteers with us will still be regarded as an external candidate when job opportunities arise.

School and college students (Years 10-11 and post-16)

We provide a variety of placements for students from schools and colleges with a catchment in the National Park. These are:

• Settlebeck High School (Sedbergh)

• Queen Elizabeth School (Kirkby Lonsdale)

• Settle College

• Aireville School (Skipton)

• Ermysteds Grammar School (Skipton)

• Skipton Girls High School

• Upper Wharfedale School (Threshfield)

• The Wensleydale School (Leyburn)

• St Francis Xavier (Richmond)

• Richmond School.

Post-16 students from South Craven School (Crosshills), Queen Katherine School (Kendal) and Craven College (Skipton) are also eligible.

Placements are usually for one or two weeks only. Unfortunately we are not able to provide school students with long-term, one or two day per week vocational placements.

All placements are accredited by the North Yorkshire Business & Education Partnership (NYBEP) or the Cumbria Business & Education Consortium (CBEC).

Please note that placement ‘bookings’ can only be accepted from work place coordinators based in the schools and colleges with which we work.

Graduates

Where someone has completed a course of study (degree, HND etc) but has difficulty in providing evidence of adequate work experience to prospective employers, we can sometimes arrange a mutually advantageous voluntary placement. Opportunities will vary at different times, as they are entirely dependent upon paid officers having suitable projects available for completion.

If you believe you have an area of experience or a specific skill from your studies that you think may be of benefit to us, please send an outline of your proposal and ideas to the Volunteers Support Officer.

Unfortunately we do not have a budget to pay expenses such as accommodation and subsistence, and we do not have accommodation available for placement students. As a result, it is usual that only students who live close to the Yorkshire Dales can afford to take up placements.

If you wish to express an interest, please email volunteers@yorkshiredales.org.uk.