Gemma Winnett’s Blog

unpaid work is totally unfair!!!

I remember my University days, where everything seemed to be so expensive, it cost hundreds to have a decent shop with the girlfriends, or a night out after a long day in the lecture halls.

We all known unpaid voluntary work doesn’t pay you in money, but in the sense that you did good for an organisation, and a good reference. But from reading an article on BBC news, it can be bloody expensive!

While having an early morning browse with a coffee, I was shocked to hear in this article, that somebody ended up spending over £400 in food and transport costs for one internship. I spent less than half that amount on my first holiday with mates at Uni, we went to sunny Spain, I remember soaking up the sun perched on my turquoise beach towel, money well spent. All right, it doesn’t compare to an internship, but I know that I would have been better off staying at home than going to an internship and being £400 worse off! It goes to show that some people would rather take telesales and other part time paid work than volunteer. I took as much part time paid work as I could, to make up for the spending at Uni and to put some away to pay off the finance.

Unpaid internships aren’t all that bad. I did one in a law office and I thought it was the best ever, I would have paid to do it. However they were kind enough to pay for my transport costs and gave me a free lunch. In face I’m still in contact with some of the guys, it was fun. However I wouldn’t fork out £400 for one.