The Kickstart Government Scheme: Jade Wilson

Interested in finding employment at ExtraCare through the Kickstart Government Scheme?

The Kickstart Scheme makes up part of the Government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’ skills and employment programmes, which also include Apprenticeships, T Levels and Traineeships.

The scheme offers six-month jobs for young people aged 16 to 24 years old, who are currently claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment. Employers benefit from having a young person working for them, funded by the Government. The employer also supports them to develop transferable skills that are aimed at increasing their chances of sustained employment.

Thousands of employers like ExtraCare, across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, have already applied for funding, which covers:

• 100% of the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months
• associated employer National Insurance contributions
• minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions
• a grant of £1,500 per job to cover setup costs and employability support

Jade’s Kickstart experience with ExtraCare

We recently discussed the scheme with Jade Wilson, 20, from Sinfin, Derby. Jade tells ExtraCare about her role on the Kickstart Scheme and about working on her social media skills at ExtraCare’s charity shop in Derby.

“I have been at the ExtraCare charity shop in Sinfin doing the social media aspect of the job. I have been posting and creating social posts for the shop including selling items, promoting the shop with events, doing “looking for” posts for volunteers and sharing posts from the official ExtraCare page.”

• Instagram
• Facebook

I learned about the vacancy and the scheme through my universal credit coach at a jobs convention for the Kickstart Scheme. I would recommend the scheme to others. I think it can be very beneficial for younger adults in particular. At our shop we do have a lot of vulnerable volunteers who say this job makes them feel welcomed and confident as it does with me. I feel it gives younger people a sense of purpose and also good management if they were to volunteer not only at our charity shop but others too!

At first it was stressful as I wasn’t fully confident on what I was doing but then I got the hang of it and now I am really enjoying it. I would say the most rewarding aspect of the job is to see how well I’ve done and see the figures increase, I’ve also loved the support I’ve had from friends and family. I enjoy helping increase the sales of the day or week. My boss at the shop does like to try and have a minimum budget during the day and if I can add to that with my sales then it’s a great feeling. It not only helps out my job but other people’s too.

My future plans are to either continue with this role or help volunteer at the shop till I find something with a paid role. I think I have made a difference with the workers by being kind and helping them out, and sales have increased.”

To find out more about vacancies with the Kickstart Scheme please visit your local job centre.