What is the Volunteer Rights Inquiry?
The Volunteer Rights Inquiry will be a short, focused exploration of the issues and potential solutions around the subject of volunteer rights.
The Inquiry sets out to examine a broad range of issues including, but not limited to, the legal rights of volunteers and to consider potential options for redress when things go wrong.
Why has Volunteering England decided to hold the Volunteer Rights Inquiry?
After a series of high profile cases and campaigning by a number of people, concerns have been raised that volunteers have no rights in dealing with volunteer involving organisations when problems occur, be they rights in law or in procedures for redress.
As the national development agency for volunteering in England, Volunteering England has decided that now would be an ideal time to examine the issue of volunteer rights more closely.
Volunteering England is taking a strategic lead to create the Volunteer Rights Inquiry, which will provide a neutral space for the discussion and deliberation of the issues and concerns.
What will the Volunteer Rights Inquiry do?
The Volunteer Rights Inquiry will meet three times between November and April 2010.
The first Volunteer Rights Inquiry meeting will explore the background and issues that have led to the formation of the Inquiry and will allow for an initial exploration of possible solutions based on work undertaken to date.
Following this, there will be two or three evidence gathering sessions in early 2010 which will allow Inquiry members to hear from interested parties and explore the issues they have faced in more detail.
The second Volunteer Rights Inquiry meeting will review the evidence submitted and discuss the arising issues. This meeting will also provide the necessary evidence to allow Volunteering England to produce the Inquiry’s final report.
The final Volunteer Rights Inquiry meeting will review the draft report and sign off the contents ahead of publication. The report will be launched in spring 2010.
How can I submit evidence to the Volunteer Rights Inquiry?
There will also be a range of ways for people to submit evidence to the Volunteer Rights Inquiry.
Many will not require attendance at an evidence gathering session, for example via Volunteering England’s website & YouTube channel, Twitter.
Full details will be released in December 2009
Who will be on the Volunteer Rights Inquiry?
| Name | Organisation/role | Reason for inclusion |
| Sukhvinder Kaur-Stubbs | Chair, Volunteering England | Sukhvinder, as Volunteering England chair, is chairing the Volunteer Rights Inquiry. |
| Judith Brodie | Director of VSO UK | Representing a large volunteer involving organisation. |
| Sean Cobley | Chair, Association of Volunteer Managers | Representing Volunteer Managers. |
| Robyn Harrison | Manager, Volunteer Centre Ripon | Representing local volunteering infrastructure. |
| Lewis Smith | Chair, Volunteer Rights Group | Representing volunteers. |
| Caroline Aldiss | Lead Campaigner for Volunteer Welfare | Representing volunteers. |
| Julia Dennis | Volunteering Development Manager, Citizen’s Advice | Representing both a volunteer involving organisation with experience of volunteer rights issues and a network of CABs to whom volunteers with problems may turn for advice. |
| Victoria Cook | Solicitor, Bates Wells and Braithwaite | Providing a legal perspective. |
| Jodi Berg | Independent Complaints Reviewer for the Charity Commission | Involved in previous discussions about the potential for an independent ombudsman or similar. |
The following Volunteering England staff will support the work of the Volunteer Rights Inquiry:
- Rob Jackson, Director of Development & Innovation.
Rob will be the Senior Management Team lead on the Inquiry for Volunteering England. Tracy Saunders, Senior Policy & Information Officer.
Tracy will provide Policy & Information support to the Inquiry. Jennifer Kirtley, Corporate Services Administrator. Jen will provide administrative support to the Inquiry. Additionally, Justin Davis Smith, Volunteering England’s Chief Executive, will be available to deputise for the chair and provide expert input and support as required.
What does the Volunteer Rights Inquiry hope to achieve?
The Volunteer Rights Inquiry will provide a comprehensive overview of the issues, concerns and possible solutions. It is hoped that these will be of interest to stakeholders in volunteering (e.g. policy makers, volunteer involving organisations, Volunteer Managers, volunteers themselves)
The Inquiry will not set out to make specific recommendations, rather it will provide a starting point for further action and discussion on how the volunteering movement could work together to resolve the issues.
- Tell us about your experience and share your opinions
- Watch our YouTube video calling for Evidence to the Volunteer Rights Inquiry
- Read our Press Release on the Volunteer Rights Inquiry
