Jobsite.co.uk offers charities millions in free volunteering vacancies

Partnership between Jobsite, Portsmouth FC, the Premier League and voluntary organisations offers free vacancy advertising

* New initiative to save UK charities and voluntary organisations over 26.5 million* in recruitment advertising

* Jobsite now enables charity organisations to post vacancies for free and in turn reach a pool of seven million candidates

* Partnership between Jobsite.co.uk, the Premier League, Volunteering England, Portsmouth Football Club and Community First for Portsmouth

Jobsite.co.uk, a leading online recruitment website, has launched an exciting new initiative enabling all charities and volunteer vacancies to be posted free of charge on Jobsite.

It is another progressive project developed through Jobsiteís main club sponsorship of Portsmouth FC, which also has the full endorsement of the Premier League, Volunteering England and Community First for Portsmouth.

The UKís charities and voluntary organisations are set to receive over 26.5 million* of recruitment advertising a year thanks to the launch of this innovative new partnership, promoting their jobs nationwide to Jobsiteís 7million registered candidates.

The initiative, named ëJobAidí, is equally candidate and recruiter-focused. It will not only allow charities to reduce their running costs, but will also introduce volunteering and charity roles to a wider job seeking audience.

The endorsing partners will promote the service to their members, helping maximise both the depth and breadth of roles posted on JobAid and the number of candidates visiting this new offering.

JobAid is being officially launched today at Portsmouth Football Clubís stadium, Fratton Park, to a variety of media, charity and volunteering group attendees.

Keith Potts, CEO of Jobsite.co.uk, says: ìOur partnership with Pompey has allowed us to get involved with some great community projects such as piloting the Premier Leagueís Back to Work scheme. We are especially proud to be launching our new JobAid initiative, as this project was initially discussed on a local level with Portsmouth FC and volunteering organisation Community First for Portsmouth, and has grown in strength enabling us to roll it out nationwide. The quality of the project is demonstrated by the endorsement of the Premier League and Volunteer England, who have chosen to support us to both reduce the running costs of charities and volunteer organisations, which is increasingly important in the current economic climate, and play a significant role in helping to get Britain back to work.î

Peter Storrie, CEO of Portsmouth Football Club, comments: ìAt Pompey, we donít just see sponsorship as a name on our shirts; what we have with Jobsite is an important partnership and we are proud to be able to work together to make a change to local communities and charities nationwide. The JobAid initiative began as a community project but Jobsiteís involvement allows us to help charities and job seekers throughout the UK. Our unique partnership is one we are very proud of and an example of the way we see sports sponsorship evolving.î

Simon Morgan, Head of Community Development, at the Premier League, says: ìThe Premier Leagueís Creating Chances programme works closely with many charitable organisations, including the Foundations set up by our clubs to work in the communities around them. Creating Chances aims to use football to make a positive difference in many different areas of modern life and the free recruitment advertising offered by Jobsite fits in with this. It will help find the highest quality people to continue the fantastic work delivered by charities and volunteering groups across the country. We are very happy to endorse such a worthwhile initiative.î

Ian Piper, Chief Executive of Community First for Portsmouth adds: ìOver the last 12 months, we have noticed an increase in people showing an interest in volunteering and in Portsmouth alone, volunteers offer 750,000 hours of their time each year. Volunteering has been shown to help many people both get into, or return, to employment and this is why we are delighted to partner with Jobsite and Portsmouth FC on this initiative. JobAid will also raise the awareness of volunteering to a mass audience and support the sense of community, which are two further fantastic reasons why we are supporting it.î

Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive for Volunteering England comments: ìVolunteering England welcomes this new route by which people will be able to take up opportunities for volunteering. Volunteering has a central role in all our communities and gives us as individuals great ways to help others, have fun, make friends or gain skills for employment.î

ìBut many people do not manage to find the opportunities that would suit them. It is particularly welcome that this initiative is being developed through the combined efforts of a local community infrastructure organisation, a private sector company and a Premiership football club. This is an innovative approach to encourage more people to give their time to community activities.î

Any charities or organisations looking to advertise on JobAid can call Jobsite on 0844 561 9333 or email jobaid@jobsite.co.uk.

People looking for voluntary roles should visit: www.jobsite.co.uk/jobaid