Why Pay?

Why pay to volunteer?
You are offering your time, skills and enthusiasm for free – so why do you have to pay to volunteer?

It is a question many volunteer agencies in the UK are asked time and time again. There is no hard and fast rule, and each potential volunteer should consider it their own responsibility to ask organisations questions such as: where their money goes, whether the organisation is profit or non-profit etc. But in theory it is a relatively simple question to answer. If the volunteer doesn’t pay, then who does?

Many volunteer agencies are run as non-profit organisations, so volunteers can rest assured that money paid to these organisations is not lining anyone’s pocket. However, the reality of the situation is this – it costs money to run any organisation and running costs must be covered by someone. Wages, office space, phone calls, training courses and materials must all be paid for.

Although some organisations rely on external funding to cover such costs and therefore are able to charge a lower fee to an individual volunteer, increasingly organisations are recognising the sustainable benefit of running as a 'commercial enterprise’. This means less reliance on funding and instead costs are covered by the organisation through generating its own revenue.

Creative Protege charges you a small registration fee of £50. In return we will provide you with a structured work assignment, with guaranteed commercial briefs, to be undertaken at home and in your own time. Throughout the duration of the placement, you will receive a wealth of advice and support from experienced individuals who work within the industry and an account manager who you can speak to at anytime (within reason!). For recent graduates, creatives who need to refresh their portfolio, those without time who need to gain experience to develop their portfolio, supported assignments can be just the ticket. Although the assignment by no means ‘guarantees’ a successful full time position afterwards, you will, however, gain much valued work experience that will greatly increase your chance of moving into the creative sector. Commercial work within your portfolio can be the bridge between your education and a career!

Creative Protege was designed to help Graduates get their foot on the ladder in what is progressively becoming a hard sector to get into. We also help business organisations to sample talent which they wouldn’t normally use due to pre-conceived ideas or through lack of resources. The first stages of your career are the most important ones and will ultimately determine the direction you go in. By utilising your training, skills and talent, we can open doors that have previously been closed. Creative Protege is here to help those who really need it.