Justin Davis Smith has pledged to strengthen Volunteering England’s voice and influence on public policy while retaining independence from government following his appointment as Chief Executive of the country’s leading volunteering development agency. He succeeds Christopher Spence, who retired in October.
Dr Davis Smith said:
“It is very exciting to be at the centre of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to embed volunteering within society, and I’m looking forward to working with members and partners to ensure our work has a genuine and lasting impact.
“Volunteering faces many challenges in the years ahead, including taking forward the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering, delivering an innovative programme through the National Support Services and ensuring a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games and we are committed to working with other agencies to maximise our influence on the formulation and implementation of public policy.
“I also believe that Volunteering England, alongside strengthening its influence, must assert its independence, and, to that end, we will boost the policy and campaigning functions within the organisation and increase our earned and non-governmental sources of income.”
Dr Mike Nussbaum, chair of Volunteering England, said:
“I have every confidence that Justin’s experience of and commitment to the volunteering sector, combined with his vision and strategic approach, will take Volunteering England and its members from strength to strength. This is volunteering’s moment in the spotlight and I am delighted that Justin will be leading Volunteering England as it works to create a society where the potential and passion of people to transform lives and communities through volunteering is fully realised.”
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Notes to editors
- For more information or interviews please contact Cat Dean on 020 7520 8932 or email cat.dean@volunteeringengland.org. For out of hours enquiries contact Sonya Roberts on 07952 128 057
- Justin Davis Smith is a founding Director of the Institute for Volunteering Research which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. He is also Chair of the Nationwide Foundation, a trustee of v, a Commissioner on the Commission on the Future of Volunteering and a visiting professor at Birkbeck College.
- Volunteering England aims to improve the quality, quantity, impact and accessibility of volunteering throughout England. For more information please visit www.volunteering.org.uk
- The Volunteering England Convention Transforming Passion into Power: Volunteering at the heart of social change is being held on 23-25 April 2008. Make sure the dates are in your diary. For regular updates, visit www.volunteering.org.uk/convention
