Alternative ways of working

The resources in this page should help you to do so, though you may also find relevant material in the resource pages on Self Employment and Gap Year opportunities.

Most of the sites below are, by their nature, very diverse in content and scope. Please bear in mind that a site listed under one sub-heading may also have material relevant to another section.

General sites & information

• The ‘Self Employment’ page on the Graduate Prospects web site gives information about self employment.
• The Ethical Junction is a gateway to the ethical sector for people in the UK and Ireland, giving a focal point for a broad range of ethical issues and trading. Intended primarily to assist consumers of products and services it nevertheless offers many contacts useful for those seeking jobs with organisations committed to sustainable living in sectors as diverse as manufacturing, investment and entertainment
• United Nations & United Nations Association of GB & Northern Ireland (UNA-UK). UNA-UK is independent from the United Nations system and is the UK's leading independent policy authority on the UN.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission Gives useful information on handling discrimination which may be useful when looking at Alternative ways of working and for the job search.
• ‘How To Find Your Mission In Life’ - section within ‘What Color Is Your Parachute?’ (the leading job hunting book in the USA for the last 25 years) explores ways of relating religious faith to the job hunt. A reference copy of this book is held by the Careers Library.

• Working Families offers advice the full range of flexible working arrangements, including part time work, job sharing, flexible working hours, term time working, career breaks, sabbaticals and working from home
• Intentional Community promotes ecovillages, cohousing, residential land trusts, communes, student co-ops, urban housing cooperatives and other related projects and dreams
• UK Co-operative Group especially the Cooperative Foundation supports community groups find co-operative solutions to community challenges.
• LETS - Local Exchange Trading Schemes - are local community-based mutual aid networks in which people exchange all kinds of goods and services with one another, without the need for money
• Business Ethics
  • Institute of Business Ethics encorages high standards of business behaviour.
  • Accountability promotes accountability for sustainable development.
  • Business in the Community is a movement of over 800 of the UK's top companies committed to improving their positive impact on Society.
  • Hightech Women & Business
  • Business Ethics the online magazine for Social Responsibility.
  • International Business Ethics Institute fostering global
    business practices that promote equitable economic development,
    resource sustainability, and just forms of government.
  Charities
  • Amnesty International Working to protect Human Rights worldwide
  • Red Cross
  • Specialist Recruitment Agencies for Charities with a large number of specialist recruitment agencies for charities
  Other Voluntary and community initiatives
  • Kingston University Students' Union links students with projects in the local community
  • Kingston Volunteer Centre has details of over 100 organisations wanting volunteers.
  • National Association of Citizen’s Advice Bureaux have voluntary opportunities
  • Christians Abroad – paid and voluntary opportunities in world development for Christians
  • CSV – Community Service Volunteers – UK's largest the UK’s largest volunteering and training charity.
    DSC - the Directory of Social Change is an independent voice for social change, set up in 1975 to help voluntary and community organisations become more effective
  • International Voluntary Service is a peace organisation working for the sustainable development of communities.
  • VSO - Voluntary Service Overseas – offer medium to long term overseas placements in world development.