30 October 2007
For immediate release
Responding to No Fear – growing up in a risk-averse society by Tim Gill, Justin Davis Smith, Acting Chief Executive of Volunteering England (VE), said:
“Tim Gill’s conclusion that bureaucratic and risk-averse procedures are impacting on recruitment in the volunteering sector is borne out by research by VE’s Institute for Volunteering Research which found that over one million volunteers had considered stopping volunteering through fear of legal action. On the Safe Side found that more than a quarter of organisations revealed that potential volunteers were deterred from volunteering, with some even calling off events and activities because the insurance premiums were too high.
“However, Mr Gill undermines his argument by inaccurately claiming that the cost of the new vetting scheme from the Independent Safeguarding Authority ‘will be largely paid by volunteer groups and schools, providing a further deterrent to the use of volunteers to work with children’. In fact, the scheme is more likely to mean a reduction in bureaucracy, not an increase, as the need for repeat Disclosures (“checks”) will be removed. Membership of the scheme will be free for volunteers, as will CRB Disclosures.
“In developing a risk management toolkit for volunteer-involving organisations, VE has acknowledged the need for a balance between sensible risk assessment and the life-affirming instinct of individuals to expose themselves to the unknown and move out of their comfort zones. We would urge any organisation or individual concerned about risk and volunteering to implement some of the suggestions in the toolkit so that they feel better equipped to carry out their work which makes a positive difference to so many lives.”
- end -
Notes to Editors
