Overview

1

Thank you for your interest in hosting a young person to have a Trailblaze paid work experience placement within your museum.

Trailblaze is part of our offer to give young people the opportunity to gain valuable part-time paid experience in a role that is tailored towards their needs and aspirations.

Trailblaze trainees are placed in a wide range of roles within the arts and cultural sector including creative and technical roles, back-office, front-of-house, hospitality and marketing. Curious Minds works closely with employers to provide a meaningful and worthwhile experience for young people and an interesting and genuine role to for them to fulfil.

Please visit http://curiousminds.org.uk/im-curious-about/trailblaze/ to view other placements across the North west on our interactive map.

2

In partnership with Museums Development North WestTogether with Museum Development North West we are looking to offer six Trailblaze placements across the North West for university students one day a week for six months.  We are particularly keen to engage students from non-arts courses in the museums sector, to develop their understanding of the range of job opportunities available and to diversify the workforce.

Recruitment will be done in partnership with a local university and will be targeted towards those young people facing challenging circumstances. How a young person meets this criteria is open to discussion, it could be someone struggling to stay engaged on their course, from a low socio-economic background, young parent or carer, etc.

3

During their placement each young person will be visited by Curious Minds to see how the placement is progressing. At that stage they will complete a personal development plan with Curious Minds and have a 1-2-1 career development session to support their next steps. Curious Minds are also available to offer support to the museum as well and act as a ‘sounding board’ or ‘middle man’.

Below you will find key information and dates relating to the programme. Please take time to read this information carefully and let us know if you have any questions. Once you are happy please complete the application form with the details of your placement and return to Holly at Curious Minds by Tuesday 3rd October.

4

Key Information Curious Minds will provide the funding to pay a young person for one day a week work

placement which will last for 6 months. One day is based on 6 hours a day and will be paid at a rate of £7.05 (NMW for 21 year

olds)

5

As the host organisation you will be acting as the employer for the young person. They will be subject to your safe guarding procedures, health and safety, etc. You will be responsible for paying the young person directly. If this presents a barrier to being involved, please contact Holly at the earliest opportunity to discuss alternatives.

As outlined above there will be additional support for the young person and the host organisation throughout this period from Curious Minds. This will include regular check-ins and support.

Any ‘oncosts’ incurred by the organisation in taking on a young person will be covered by Museum Development North West.

If you are able to contribute by increasing the hourly rate paid or extending the term that would be ideal, although not essential.

You are welcome to negotiate the exact working days with the young person directly. This may include working two evenings a week for example or more days over an intensive

6

period dependent on their role. Curious Minds should be kept informed of their working pattern.

Key Dates Please complete and return the proforma by Tuesday 3rd October. Final job description must be signed off both internally and by Curious Minds prior to

recruitment taking place. This will happen within an agreed timescale. Recruitment to start at the earliest opportunity to give additional time to normal

recruitment timescales. We anticipate that this will happen in November 2017. Each placement will run for six months and will start by January 2018 at the latest.

7

8

Employer Application Form Name of Organisation

Key Staff Contact(including name and job title)

9

Contact Details(phone number and email address)

This opportunity is targeted at non-arts students.

With that in mind, please give an outlined of the key areas of the role that you would want the young person to carry out

(Where possible please include

10

their responsibilities, anticipated day of work, any key skills required, etc)

Curious Minds will help to develop this further into a full job description and advert

Please give an outline as to why you want to be

11

involved in the Trailblaze work experience programme (this could include specific benefits to your organisation, your current projects, etc)

12

Who will be responsible for line managing the young person?And what previous experience do they have of supporting young people?

13

In the event that the Line Manager goes on long term sick/leaves the company/goes on sabbatical/etc who will take over their responsibilities with the young person?

And what previous experience do they have of supporting young people?

14

Please outline how you plan to support a young person internally during their placement

This opportunity is targeted at university students.

15

Do you already have a relationship with your nearest university? If so, please give details.

Please give details as to their proximity to you, public transport links, etc.

16

Please outline any additional support that you would like from Curious Minds during this placement

17