16 March 2005
Volunteering England (VE), the national volunteering development agency, warmly welcomes the publication of the Russell Commission’s report into volunteering by young people. The organisation describes the report’s recommendations as a fantastic opportunity for up to a million more young people to transform their lives and their community.
Volunteering England singles out the Commission’s decision to build on the existing volunteering infrastructure, and in particular the network of local Volunteer Development Agencies as a positive step forward. Previous government volunteering schemes have been criticised for a tendency to reinvent the wheel, ignoring the experience, skills and good practice already plentiful in the sector.
As well as proposing that 400 new workers be employed to support and develop youth volunteering, the commission also addressed barriers to volunteering. A key example is the negative attitude to volunteering by some Jobcentre Plus benefits advisors. Despite a positive approach to volunteering in the benefits rules, some claimants are still told that they cannot volunteer, or worse, find their Jobseekers Allowance or Incapacity benefit suspended. The Commission recommends a drive to make local jobcentres more volunteering friendly, with better guidance and Jobcentre Plus staff nominated to lead on volunteering in their local office.
Volunteering England’s Chief Executive Christopher Spence said:
“By listening to the opinions of both the youth volunteering sector and over 6000 young people the Commission has put forward proposals that are both practical and energising.
We’re pleased to see the report avoiding the ‘one size fits all’ approach to volunteering. By offering easy access to a diverse range of volunteering opportunities through a new volunteering portal - a one stop shop for volunteer opportunities - young people will be given the chance to choose something that’s right for them, from work in their local community to full time volunteering.
Having young people at the heart of the national framework for youth action and engagement means that the Commission’s ‘step change’ in youth volunteering will be driven by young people, not imposed on them”.
A national body has been proposed to oversee the delivery of the report’s recommendations. Young people would be at the heart of the body, making up a quarter of the board, and forming a young person’s advisory group. The Commission’s approach was itself shaped by its 20 strong Youth Advisory Board.
The report’s recommendation that Investing in Volunteers is used as the basis for a youth volunteering ‘kitemark’ is also good news for Volunteering England, which is the England partner of the UK wide volunteering quality standard.
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Press Enquiries:
For any additional information or comment from Volunteering England, please contact Tehira Shafiq on 0207 5208932 or email tehira.shafiq@volunteeringengland.org
Notes for editors
1. Volunteering England is the integrated national volunteer development organisation for England. It works across the voluntary, public and private sectors to raise the profile of volunteering as a powerful force for change.
Volunteering England was formed in April 2004 following a merger between The Consortium on Opportunities for Volunteering, The National Centre for Volunteering and Volunteer Development England.
2. The Russell Commission was set up by the Government to develop a new national framework for youth action and engagement. It is part of Government’s wider programme to promote volunteering right across society, and to encourage active and engaged citizens.
Headed by Ian Russell, the Chief Executive of ScottishPower, the Commission had a remit to work in partnership with voluntary groups and other stakeholders to identify what works in volunteering, in the UK and abroad.
3. The Russell Commission report A national framework for youth action and engagement was released on 13 March 2005 and is available for download at www.russellcommission.org
4. Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations that involve volunteers in their work. The Standard enables organisations to comprehensively review their volunteer management, and also publicly demonstrates their commitment to volunteering.
The Standard is managed locally by the lead volunteer development agency of each individual country of the UK. More information: www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk
