THE DEAN of Manchester, Rogers Govender, is leading a delegation of 12 people for 5 days from across Greater Manchester to Washington. The visit beginning on 5 February is at the invitation of the UK Ambassador to the United States and will focus on the Cathedral Volunteer Programme.
The Manchester delegation to Washington DC will meet with city leaders, volunteer programmes and volunteers to share knowledge and learn from each other.
The Cathedral has created a programme which links volunteering, skills and jobs in partnership with Jobcentre Plus.
The reputation the programme has gained has now spread from the UK to the USA.
The programme was developed in close partnership with InclusionNW and InclusionUS, part of the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion.
The Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion has supports the development of best practice with inclusion in the labour market and has initiated UK:US knowledge exchanges for a number of years.
The Manchester delegation to Washington DC will meet with city leaders, volunteer programmes and volunteers to share knowledge and learn from each other.
Dean Rogers GovenderThe Dean of Manchester says” I am so pleased to be leading this delegation to Washington and to speak about our programme and the impact it is having with so many long-term unemployed and vulnerable people in gaining a foot hold in the labour market. I am particularly pleased that Jobcentre Plus and Manchester City Council will be joining us, together with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Imperial War Museum, Manchester Galleries and the City West Housing Trust”.
Tracy Fishwick, InclusionNW says “We’ve been able to create something different at the Cathedral, by bringing our experience of employer involvement and employability support for volunteers, who are all on out of work benefits. This has no doubt struck a cord with colleagues in Washington DC. Governments in both countries are developing and refining policies to encourage greater civic engagement, community activism and volunteering efforts. This is particularly true at the City level, where volunteering efforts are gaining momentum in a challenging economy – and where linking to jobs is what people really need”.
Manchester Cathedral
