REC Announces Charity Partnership with OPERA

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) today announced a partnership with the youth employment charity OPERA. The collaboration will run for a minimum of five years and aims at getting more young people into work and staying in work.

All money raised by REC member agencies and donated by individual recruiters will go towards OPERA’s #thrivefund, which helps disadvantaged young people by providing a bursary of up to £500 to spend on work essentials. These can be basics such as clothes to wear to an interview, a travel card to get to work or the fees for a course and the necessary tools and equipment to start a new role. 

REC members can make direct donations as a business, organise activities or get involved in OPERA events, such as the Recruitment Rowathon in March, the Three Peaks Challenge in summer or a bake-off competition in autumn. In addition, those who want to bring in their skills by volunteering can join the foundation. 

OPERA was launched in September 2017 and works with the recruitment and staffing industry to tackle youth unemployment.

Esther O’Callaghan OBE, founder and CEO of OPERA, says:  

“A strategic partnership between the largest trade body for the industry and the first recruitment-led youth foundation is a crucial step in harnessing our collective power to provide a meaningful and practical response to young people facing unemployment.”

REC CEO Kevin Green says:

 

“The REC is delighted to announce that we are teaming up with OPERA as our charity partner. We chose to support OPERA and to recommend it to our members for two reasons. Firstly, its purpose and focus is helping young people furthest from the jobs market to get and stay in a job. This fits with our view that jobs transform lives. Secondly, OPERA was started by recruiters for recruiters and we are always keen to leverage and amplify the great work our industry does in supporting good causes.”

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Notes to editors:

1. Members who want to find out how to best get involved can go to www.rec.uk.com/about-us/our-charity-partner-opera 

2. For more information, contact the REC Press Office on 0207 009 2157/2192 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. An ISDN line is available for interviews on 0207 021 0584.

3. Jobs transform lives, which is why we are building the best recruitment industry in the world. As the professional body for recruitment we’re determined to make businesses more successful by helping them secure the people they need. We are absolutely passionate and totally committed in this pursuit for recruiters, employers, and the people they hire. Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com

4. Not having the means with which to earn your way out of poverty has a toxic impact on young people’s lives. OPERA believes young people deserve your support and that recruiters working together can make a significant impact on thousands of young people’s lives across the UK. Launched in September 2017 OPERA is the youth employment charity built to work with the recruitment and staffing industry to tackle youth unemployment. OPERA believes every young person deserves to thrive in life and good jobs are essential to make that happen. Find out more about OPERA at weareopera.org