Use our free resources created with teachers to help plan activities with workplace volunteers:
- Step-by-step guides on how to run activities such as speed networking, careers fairs, CV workshops and mock interviews
- Top tips for teachers and careers leaders on using your account and interacting with volunteers
- Guides on how to embed volunteers into your curriculum, including subject teaching
- Ideas on different ways to use Inspiring the Future, such as assemblies and drop-down days, time-tabled lessons, and lesson starters, as well as how to complement your existing activities.
- Toolkits to prepare your students for activities and to support reflection
- Guides for virtual activities, including information on tech platforms and safeguarding
Access resources and start planning your volunteer encounter:
Volunteers taking part in a virtual session.
Activity ideas: year 7 to post-16
Tailor any of the below activities to fit your students’ needs and interests.
Year 7: At this age, it’s good to expose students to a wide range of possible careers. Activities can include:
- Career speed networking
- ‘What’s My Line?’ assemblies to guess volunteer jobs
- Assembly or classroom talks
Year 8: Continue broadening horizons and challenging stereotypes through activities such as:
- Career talks from volunteers
- Career speed networking
- Apprenticeship volunteer talks to introduce this pathway
Year 9: Volunteer insight sessions can help with inspiration and option choices via activities like:
- Careers fairs
- Volunteer talks at option or parents’ evenings
- Career talks and workshops in the classroom
Year 10: Help to motivate and prepare students for exams and work experience via:
- Mock interview and CV workshop sessions
- Employability skills workshops
- Pathway and sector insight talks
- Speed networking to continue broadening horizons
Year 11: Activities at this age can help with motivation and destination choices post 16. Examples include:
- Careers fairs
- Sector-focused insight talks
- Pathway-focused insight talks from volunteers who took an apprenticeship, started their own business or went to HE.
Post 16: Bring in volunteers and employers to help prepare students for next steps as well as motivating for exams. Ideas include:
- Application and interview workshops
- Sector insight talks
- Workplace visits
- Job shadowing