Working for free to get experience

[katedan]

A job has been advertised that is perfect for me however it wants expereince in something that I last did in 2006 so I am faily sure I would be rejected for not having recent expereince. It is just what I want to do and could not be more perfect. As I am a sahm my expereince is becoming less and less valid every month that goes past and as my job (and this one) was based on knowledge of current legislation I am struggling to get work. I am thinking of contacting the team and offering to work for free to get expereince. Has anyone done this? Is there any legal reason why a local authority would not be allowed to employ unpaid workers?

As you can tell I am desperate but it is so frustrating seeing jobs that I would be really good at slip through my fingers because of the lack of recent expereince.

I can see where you are coming from but I think a local authority is unlikely to be your best bet. I have been involved in setting up placements and internships and public sector is beset with red tape.
In times of cuts you are unlikely to receive w warm welcome from staff or the trades unions and I think your best bet would be to seek a placement as part of a programme. Where I am ( Scotland) there are schemes for graduates and school leavers. The DWP should tell you more.
If you want to organise your placement yourself I would look for something in the voluntary sector- less red tape and greater flexibility .
You need to be able to demonstrate the benefits to an organisation in giving you this experience. There will be a cost to them in hosting you and that will need to be justified somehow.
Good luck