When I graduated I knew that I would have to volunteer/sign on/work for pittance in order to get the experience I needed to move on. Worked for me.

That's not the point, You shouldn't have had too.

The big business' really on this attitude to make bigger profits.

What if you had to get a paid job because your family depended on it? You now wouldn't have that experience because you couldn't afford to gain it!

Where did you get that from?

A lot of students budget their finance over the course of 52 weeks, of course some may look to top that up by doing paid work. But any student with a brain knows that three months unpaid work (we don't even know if it is) in a professional environment in a field they may well want to pursue a career in is far more beneficial for their long term career prospects than stacking shelves in Lidl.

It's a student internship!

Big businesses rely on internships and the attitude towards them to make big profits? I've heard it all now.

Well I think it is a very appealing position, which I'm sure will get a lot of interest from graduates.

Of course it will mate, it's a great opportunity.

And what if they can't afford to do it, what if they aren't in a position to work for free?

Then they look exclusively for the paid internships, there's plenty about.

I think we're blurring the lines between a student internship and work experience for job seekers, they're two completely different things.

They don't apply? Or they get another job on top? I know plenty who have done/are doing that exact thing, me included.

You finished your PGCE now then mate?

Then they either don't take the opportunity & try and get a paying job or do what I did and take the opportunity & discuss with the company hours etc do that I could get a secondary income to pay my way as I could see the benefit from getting off my arris to achieve what I wanted.

It's an opportunity for someone who wants a career in that field not a compulsory requirement!!!

Alternatively they can stay out of work moaning about the fact no one gives them an opportunity. When I left after graduating I was thankful for any opportunity paid or unpaid to put on my CV, I didn't just expect to be provided a living or career.

It's always the lazy people faults.

from getting off my arris to achieve what I wanted.

Alternatively they can stay out of work moaning about the fact no one gives them an opportunity

Not by me.

Has anyone taken into account that the club might not be able to afford to make the position a paying position? Would it be better for them to just not have the position available?

I don't understand people's gripes here? It's an internship aimed at getting people more experience in the field so they can go on to get a fully paid job in the same field. If you need a job that pays, apply for a job that pays. That's life! I offered coaches voluntary experience in schools not because I was greedy and trying to make a profit, but because it would benefit them with gaining experience and skills necessary to gain a job whilst at the same time make lessons better for the kids having an extra pair of hands there. I didn't need them.

It feels like a case of people feeling offended for others