Quilombo UK. Marcus Vallinari.

A number of freelancers have got in touch about issues they have had with an organisation called Quilombo UK, a social enterprise with lofty ambitions but which, by all accounts, treats their volunteers somewhat less well than they should.

Their “Professional Development Programme” is, they say, designed for participants to “gain valuable experience and skills that can increase their long-term prospects and opportunities” but in practice, those who have volunteered have said that it basically involves them simply doing a lot of unpaid work with few of the promised learning activities and benefits which they are promised in their contracts.

As such these participants say that:

1. They had very little useful feedback on what they did.

2. In terms of the promised “development guidance” there was little of useful substance, no actual teaching and no contact at all with external individuals in the industry.

3. “Job search support” was pretty much non-existent.

4. There were none of the promised “performance reviews”.

5. The only promised “skills audit” they received involved them filling in a self assessment form which was then not followed up.

6. There was none of the promised “customised training” apart from a small amount on leadership skills.

7. There was next to nothing in terms of the promised “CV advice”.

8. There was no “Industry awareness training” at all and very few people gained their promised certificates at the end of their course.

9. And to cap it all off, many people also failed to receive their promised expenses.

They also said that the leader of the organisation, Marcus Vallinari, demonstrated a notable lack of patience with staff and seemed pretty uninterested in developing any of the individuals who came through his doors, despite that apparently being the point of the programme. Vallinari also didn’t seem particularly interested in responding to any concerns raised.

All in all then: if you are considering taking up the offer of a place on this “development programme”, be warned that it may well not be all that is promised in the contract you’re offered.

Quilombo UK: Freelancers Beware.