Raising career aspirations for young disabled people with Vodafone

Following the success of our workplace initiative with the Department for Work and Pensions last year, Volunteering Matters is placing young disabled people in Vodafone stores across the country for work shadowing opportunities.

The programme aims to improve the employment prospects of young disabled people, build their confidence and support their career aspirations.

More than twenty young people are taking part in work shadowing days at Vodafone stores, which are designed to provide valuable work experience for the young disabled person, and also offer an opportunity for store managers to gain experience of teaching and mentoring young people. The work shadowing days are taking place between January and March 2016.

James, a pupil at QE2 school, completed his work shadowing day in January. James’s teacher, Laura, said: “James had a great day! He really enjoyed it and the staff were really accommodating. They worked really well with him.”

Devraj, store manager at the White City (Westfield) branch of Vodafone, said:

“The shadow day went really well.  James was very friendly to all my team members and his visit really added a grace to our Vodafone store in Westfield.  I loved his passion for phones, for everyone it was a very motivating experience.”