With as many as one-in-five 16-24 year olds now looking for work, part of the 2.47m people currently unemployed, most of us know someone who is in this challenging situation and looking for opportunities.

The good news is there’s not just one but 500 opportunities up for grabs right now, but not for much longer. The Vodafone World of Difference programme, delivered by the Vodafone Foundation, is giving 500 Brits the chance to take a two month paid placement with the charity of their choice.

Not a bad way at all to get some new skills on the CV if you’re just out of uni, or to get back into the work routine if you’re a little older. And best of all, it’ll help make a big difference to people in your own community. In return, the charity with receive £2,500 from the Vodafone Foundation, and you’ll be paid after the usual tax and National Insurance deductions.

The closing date for applications is just over two weeks, so there’s still time to get your entry in. The most important thing is to make sure you’ve got the backing of a local charity you want to work for.

There’s no excuse not to get out there and make a difference, especially when the 500 chosen also get the latest mobile phone to video and photograph their two month placement. But this is your LAST CHANCE to enter – the closing date is 3^rd November. So get your entry in now, it’s open to anyone over the age of 18 right across the UK. Go to www.vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference to make it happen.

Someone who knows the difference you can make in your town when it comes to donating your time is Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan. She joins us now, along with Emma Jenkins, from the Vodafone Foundation, who can explain exactly how to enter.

For more information visit www.vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference

H: Vicky Letch, host
M: Michelle Keegan. actress
E: Emma Jenkins, Vodafone Foundation

H: Hello and welcome to the final in the series of special Vodafone Foundation Web TV shows, I’m Vicky Letch. Now then, if you haven’t heard about the Vodafone World of Difference programme, delivered by the Vodafone Foundation, where have you been? There is a chance that you could be selected to take a two month paid placement with the charity of your choice. Now it sounds almost too good to be true, so stay online because over the next 15 minutes or so, we’ll be telling you all about it. Joining me today to talk about this fantastic opportunity and how you can apply is actress Michelle Keegan and Emma Jenkins, from the Vodafone Foundation. Welcome to you both, thanks for joining me today. Now of course do remember at home we are live, so if you are interested in applying for this fantastic opportunity, and have any questions at all, pop them in the box on the screen and click submit and we’ll answer as many as we possibly can. So Emma I’m going to start with you – for those people who are joining us for the first time today and they’ve never heard of the World of Difference programme, can you just outline it for us?

E: Yes so basically the World of Difference programme in the UK is offering 500 people the chance to work for any charity under the sun, for two months, but the unique thing is they get paid. So obviously if you couldn’t afford to normally do this, this is your chance now to really make a difference to the community but at the same time still pay your bills

H: Ok brilliant and of course the unique thing is, as you said, is that you do get paid – you’re doing something good for the world and you get paid at the same time. So tell us how that works?

E: Yes the Vodafone Foundation will pay each charity £2500, they’ll take taxes and NI off that and then you’ll be left with, you know the remaining balance which is around £1000 per month towards your outgoings. So obviously it’s great if you know you’ve got bills and worrying about that, so you know the charity wins – gets your skills, but you get paid at the same time

H: Absolutely because I think that can hold people back, you want to do something good but actually reality bites, and you do have to pay the bills, so on and so forth, so that does open up doors for lots of people

E: Yes exactly

H: Yes

E: And if you’re unemployed you might be thinking you know this is the perfect thing for me to do as an interim solution, you know it shows future employers that I’m using my initiative, so –

H: Yes absolutely. So Michelle we all know you’re a busy lady – obviously with your filming schedule, you’d think you wouldn’t have time to do anything else, but you do still have time to do your charity work

M: Yes

H: And you’ve experienced first-hand the difference charity work can make to a community. Can you tell us a bit about the work that you do?

M: Well I live in a community in Salford and it’s quite tight and it’s really nice for me to live in, and when I finished school I actually did volunteer work for a local vetinary practice and a – what are they called now? What are they called – sorry?

E: The Dog Trust

M: The Dog Trust, yes sorry! So now I’m actually ambassador of the Dog Trust and I also did Homeless – that’s what I was thinking – Homeless shelter as well when I was younger, and it just makes such a big difference to the community

H: Yes

M: And pulling together and you do grow as a person as well, and obviously I’m busy and things like that but we do have a lot of time off, like you can work strictly on a storyline for like months and then have two months off and at the minute I’ve had, I’ve been less involved in the storylines so it’s been great to get out there and help charity and things like that

H: And do other things

M: Yes get involved

H: And there I’ve been feeling sorry for all of you soap stars, for all this time and you have a lovely life don’t you? And also something else I’ve read about you which I thought was such a simple thing to do that other people might just oversee, is that you refuse to throw any of your clothes away, you always donate your clothes to charity –

M: Yes my mum used to come in my room and actually did it herself, because I had that many clothes, but now little things like that, just donate instead of throwing them away, donate them to charities, every little thing helps really

H: Yes absolutely. And we are talking about a huge life experience here, although we’re saying it’s a two month placement imagine – there could be examples where you can carry on with the charity, we’re not saying that’s a definite but it could end up being that way. But in terms of actually furthering your career and how it could help your CV, how do you think they could gain in that – in that way

E: Well I think if – particularly if you’re a graduate that’s coming straight from out from university and you haven’t had any proper job experience before but you’ve got some great skills

H: Yes

E: You could take those to the charity and then obviously once you’ve completed your two month placement, a future employer would say look they’ve used their initiative, they’ve used these skills, they’ve got some life experience, they’re obviously motivated to go and do that and I just think you know, everybody benefits so it’s great

H: Yes absolutely and who are we talking about when we say anyone can apply – do we really mean anyone can apply?

E: Absolutely anyone, 18 –

H: So as long as you’re over –

E: Yes 18 or over you’re a UK resident but you know from past experience we’ve had you know someone that’s – as I said fresh out of university or they’ve just wanted a completely different – change their life or they could be retired, so yes really it’s just a great opportunity, get involved in the charitable sector, and I think from past experience the majority of people have actually stayed with their charity in a voluntary capacity

H: Yes

E: So it’s great you know for the charity itself because you get really passionately involved with something

H: Yes absolutely. So it could be someone in their 50s looking for a change –

E: Absolutely

H: It could be one of the 18-25 year olds that –

M: Any skills as well, so if you’ve got skills in IT or marketing or carpentry or anything like that, any skills will help

H: Yes. Which is so important – home in on your own skills. I think lots of people, and I’m probably one of these people that sit at home thinking well what do I have to offer? What can I specifically do, but if you go onto the Match Maker, matchmaker online?

E: Yes so if you go to vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference, there there’s a charity matchmaker, you put in where you live, what kind of think you’re interested in whether it’s conservation or animals or drug-related issues, and it will come up with a list of options for you, you know for particular charities that are looking for people, or you might actually be passionate about your local hospice round the corner and think yes well I know – I know I want to do it for them, so it can be anything

H: Yes ok. Time to go live, to the live questions. Thank you to Remena, Remena says “I’m Spanish but I have been living in the UK for 5 years, can I participate?”

E: Yes she can as long as she has the right to work that’s absolutely fine

H: Ok

E: So as long as the placement’s are in between – well for either January or April, so as long as you can work in the UK then it’s fine

H: Ok. And another question here from Hannah, thank you very much Hannah. “Hi Michelle!”

M: Hi Han!

H: “You’re my fave actress and I love you in Corrie. Are you doing any charity stuff in Manchester? Hannah.” Smiley face

M: Well I’m doing a doggie walk on Sunday at Merseyside, so you can get – if you’ve got a dog or you want to come for a walk come down there, be good fun, good day

H: Do you have a dog, do you take your own dog?

M: I have – we’ve actually got the same sort of dog

H: Oh have you?

M: We’ve been talking, yes. We’ve got a Dachshund, sausage dog

H: Oh I used to have a sausage dog. Mine died

E: Yes it’s the Dachshund appreciation society!

H: It really is. It really is. Oh sweet! Right let’s take another one from Heather, thank you Heather – ”what skills do I need to have?”

E: You could have any skills so it doesn’t just have to be academic skills, just –

M: If you’re good with people or children or anything couldn’t you?

E: Yes so it’s whatever that charity might need. You know it could be something technical like they need a database and they can’t really afford to employ a technical person to do that, but it could be that they just – they just, you know need something building

H: Yes

E: It could be absolutely anything under the sun. So as long as you demonstrate you’ve gto the passion, motivation to help them, and they want you, then it’s a perfect match

H: Absolutely and I have to say you said the word “passion” –

E: Yes

H: Over the last 3 weeks that has been the dominant word here, passion and drive, and if you have that it’s a great starting mark isn’t it? ~Interesting, we’ve had questions over the past couple of weeks from parents, for example, that are looking for advice for their youngsters and are looking to direct them in a certain way, and that is great if you feel like you need to give one of your teenagers a kick up the backside, but that person really has to want to do it themselves, don’t they?

E: Yes absolutely. On the application form you need to demonstrate not only that you have the support of the charity but why you want to do this, why – you know, what could you bring to the charity

H: Yes

E: So we’re looking for those really inspiring individuals that just think yes, this is for me

H: Yes ok. Now let’s just flip things around a little bit – what if there are charities watching now, particularly smaller charities that might just be sitting there thinking well whose going to knock on our door? What can they do to help themselves in this process as well?

E: Well it’s very, very easy – on the charity matchmaker there’s literally a facility whereby they just need to log on to our website, they fill in their details and then their details will go live on the site, so you know someone that’s looking for something in Salford for instance

H: Yes

E: Will see that small charity and think great. You know so we’re finding lots of charities are contacting us and their details are going on, you know over the last week or so – it’s great

H: Brilliant. This is from Lee Kay, thank you Lee Kay, he says “hi Michelle”

M: Hi

H: “What charity would you work for? I think your style is great, and you could really help inspire others to do good things. I’m going to apply. Please choose me!” I think Michelle can do that –

M: I do choose Lee! Well I’ve been saying in interviews today that I’m quite passionate about animals, and animal welfare really, so that’s why I work with the Dogs Trust, so like yes you have to be passionate about a certain thing, and that’s what I’m passionate about, so I’ve gone down that road really

H: Yes exactly, and that is it, pinpointing your own, personal passions. I have to say I spent a day at the Dog’s Trust and it is the most brilliant place, I love –

M: It is yes

H: I loved it. Alan, thank you Alan, Alan says “will the charity want to keep me after the time is up?” It depends if you’re a good boy Alan

E: I’m sure the charity would love to keep you if they could afford it, it just depends on their financial circumstances

H: Yes

E: But obviously it is only a two month placement, the foundation can only pay £2500 for each charity

H: Yes

E: For that period

H: Yes but incredible of course that they are getting paid for it, but people should see it as a two month thing rather than perhaps a long term change

M: Ye

E: But as I said before in the past from World of Difference programmes we’ve run in other countries, a lot of people stay involved with that charity, which is great for the charity

H: Ok, ok. Right, let’s just talk about how you apply because there are people now I should think watching thinking how do I do it, how do I do it?

E: Really easy, just go to vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference. There you’ll have all your questions answered, there’s a whole detailed FAQ

H: Yes

E: And then there’s a simple form to fill in, you just have to give your details, demonstrate you’ve got the support of the charity, provide some referees and that’s it. But applications close on the 3^rd November, so you need to get cracking

H: Ok. Stevie, thank you for your question. Stevie says “how can I submit a winning application form?” which I think is an excellent question

M: That’s a good one that, I haven’t heard that one yet, yes

H: Because you’ve got to be – I mean you have to stick out here don’t you?

M: Stand out from the crowd, yes you do

E: I think it’s really just as we talked about before, demonstrating that passion, because there’s obviously a lot of skilled people that want to work for charities – it’s just demonstrating that you’ve got that USP that you really could change that charity for the – the difference that you make in that two months, I mean the foundation could just give the charity £2500 but we don’t want to do that, because the value of that person is far greater than that cheque for £2500, so any kind of special things that you think about yourself, and the charity perhaps could say, you know in terms of why they want you particularly, would help

H: Ok and how about them making the first steps to actually contact their charity? What if people are slightly nervous about the cold-calling, if they are just calling up a charity? Charities – do they mind people doing that?

E: No not at all, I mean we’re being contacted by charities, you know saying what’s the best process for us to do this, and we’re suggesting that perhaps they get someone to email them in the first instance with a CV and also they can read that at their leisure and then give them a call back, so I think that’s probably the best approach. But obviously if you know the charity anyway then it’s easy and you just go in and have a chat with them

H: Yes

E: But you do obviously need to have that support

H: Ok but the general message when it comes to applying is do take time over your application, it’s really important

E: Yes, yes so before you go into the form just have a think, perhaps look at the form first, think about how you answer questions, take a couple of days to really think it through, but obviously get your application in before the 3^rd

H: Yes. Time is ticking!

E: Yes

H: Sean. Thank you Sean – Sean says “what sort of your charity” – ok let’s start again – “what sort of charity would Tina work for if she was applying for this?”

M: Oh that’s a good question

H: Yes

M: I think Tina’s very good with people, so maybe like – I don’t know like a homeless one or maybe an – a drug-related charity that she can talk to people and share her views, because she’s very opinionated isn’t she Tina?

H: She’s pretty hardcore isn’t she?

M: She’s quite feisty

H: Yes she is feisty

M: So I could picture her being really good with interacting with people and things like that, definitely

H: Yes. Excellent. That was a good question wasn’t it? Lucy Buck, thanks Lucy Buck. She says “hi Emma and Michelle, it is Lucy from Child’s Eye foundation, one of the winners of the World of Difference international programme. Just a quick message to say thank you so much for the opportunity of a lifetime, and really looking” – looking forward it must be – “to going out to start the project in Uganda, I want to wish everyone good luck and to everyone whose applying.” That’s nice isn’t it?

E: Yes Lucy was a fantastic candidate actually, so she’s just won the kind of phase 1 of this programme to go out for a whole year and work for a charity of choice, so she’s really excited about starting at the end of October

H: Excellent stuff. Thanks Lucy. So Michelle let’s just ask you one last question then, if there are people watching now and they’re thinking I think I want to do it but I’m a little bit nervous, I’m not sure. What would you say to them?

M: Just get out there and do it, do you know what I mean? Giving something back to the community can make such a big difference and people will follow you as well. If you do it you’ll see people around you that will want to do it too

H: Ok, and obviously before we go I would literally be hung if I don’t do this – talk about Corrie briefly!

M: Talk about Corrie

H: Because you’ve had your amazing storyline, going through all of your hoo-ha with your father

M: Yes

H: And what’s coming next for you?

M: Well I haven’t been in for a few months actually, so I haven’t got the scripts for Christmas, but I know we’re going to be filming that next week, so I know someone comes back on the Street who was in it a few years ago, there’s going to be a bit of an uproar going on. That’s all I’m saying

H: That’s all she’s saying. Aaah – give us more. When the cameras turn off I’ll find out everything

M: Yes. I’ll tell you the goss

H: Thank you very much, thank you both of you so much for your time, it’s been very insightful. 3^rd November?

E: Yes vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference

H: Well done. You get a chocolate for that, well done. Ok you lot, that is all we’ve got time for. If you do fancy applying you still have time but you do need to be quick because the deadline is –

E: 3^rd November

H: And remember you need to make sure you have the backing from your charity. Now you can log on to vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference. You can also check out the Facebook pages on facebook.com/worldofdifference as well. The deadline again is 3^rd November so be quick and the very best of luck. Bye bye

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