Volunteers are involved in many different public sector settings, from schools to police stations and from museums to people's own homes. In some cases volunteers are engaged directly by a state body, (such as by a voluntary services manager in a hospital), and in others, volunteers are engaged by a voluntary organisation which is providing services on behalf of the state.
Volunteers are often perceived as bringing a 'personal' touch to local authority services, and hospitals in particular have recognised the value of involving volunteers in their patient liaison services. Volunteering is also sometimes described as a way for former patients and service users to "give something back" based on their personal experience and this idea is gaining popularity.
Although they have traditionally been associated with charities and voluntary groups, volunteers are now generally be accepted in any not-for-profit setting. In fact, some national services like coastguard and search and rescue services actually rely on volunteers. Some misconceptions remain about volunteering and state benefits such as Jobseekers' Allowance, but the social security regulations say that claimants can volunteer in any "organisation the activities of which are carried on otherwise than for profit".
Trades unions play quite a strong role in the public sector and historically there have been concerns over job substitution, inappropriate volunteer roles or poor working relations between paid staff and volunteers. Some sectors such as the health service have addressed such problems through national agreements, but other sectors are still grappling with these issues.
Volunteers often contribute to additional services, and the principle of 'adding value' rather than substituting the role of paid staff is particularly important. One interesting example takes place in Crown and Magistrates Courts where Witness Service volunteers give support and information to people attending court. It's an important role which shows how volunteers can bridge a potential gap between the state and members of the public, and support the running of the court system.
Themes of community involvement and citizenship have risen on the government's agenda in recent years. This is perhaps partly in recognition of well-established volunteer roles in the public sector, such as school governors, magistrates and representatives on Youth Offending Panels.
But volunteering in a public sector environment may not appeal to all, particularly as state services can be associated with bureaucratic structures. Volunteer managers in public sector settings can play a key role in creating volunteer-friendly procedures and policies, and the core themes of the Good Practice Bank should be a useful resource.
