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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.

To propose that young people aged 18-25 can receive job seekers allowance whilst doing a work internship.

To propose that young people aged 18-25 can receive job seekers allowance whilst doing a work internship.

Closed — 34 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Fraser N.
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Juno T.
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Julien T.
A
Amanda T.
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Someone
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anna m.
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rory o.
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kate h.
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carla r.
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Someone
+24 more
Started by Anonymous 16 years, 4 months ago
An internship in a company is a key way to build up on experience, add to your CV, learn about your role and gain references towards a job in the future which could hopefully be given to you by the company you are interning for after the placement. In 2010 most young people need internships to gain jobs especially those who have not been to university, and are all that a lot of young people are being offered especially within media industries. However working for free is hard, occasionally they may pay the travel expenses and if your lucky lunch but what about the bills/home/dinner/breakfast etc and continuing to live whilst working for free monday to friday can become impossible. Job seekers allowance can keep one a float whilst doing internships which obviously show that the person doing the internship is actively seeking work and gaining valuable experience for the future. If you do a 30 day work trial or work for a Charity you are allowed to continue claiming but not if you are doing an internship. I propose that with provided evidence from the employer young people aged 18-25 not just graduates are allowed to receive job seekers allowance whilst on a internship.

Updates

May 12, 2010

I honestly never thought this would gain this much steam when I typed it up on my laptop at midnight last week. It is wild to see so many people getting why working for free is just not sustainable anymore because paying for rent with experience points is impossible even if you try your hardest.

3 Comments

S
Sarah Wilkinson
16 years ago Featured

so true. you cant afford to work for free when you have rent to pay. need to make it fair for everyone not just the people with rich parents who can support them.

J
James Reyes
16 years ago Featured

This is ridiculous. Doing internships should count as searching for work. Let them eat!

M
Mark Hunt
16 years ago Featured

Finally someone said it. Employers expect you to have 5 years exp at 20 but offer 0 pay. Its literally impossible to survive.