Fair Trade Internships: Supporting charities, NGOs and socents to improve policy and practice

Volunteering is the lifeblood of charities and NGOs, and of many social enterprises too. But has the voluntary principle morphed into unfair employment practice via the internship system? Many non-profits and socents have become dependent on a supply of free enthusiastic graduates competing to get their feet on to career ladders. How can this system become fairer while safeguarding valuable work experience and rehabilitating genuine voluntarism? Our workshop in April 2013 explored these issues, and this is a report of the discussions. (2013)