Government responds to the Commission on the Future of Volunteering with
£6million new funding
7 March 2008
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, today published the Government’s
response to the Commission on the Future of Volunteering report,
Manifesto for Change. In it the Government accepts the majority of
the Commission’s recommendations and backs this up with £6million new
investment.
The Commission on the Future of Volunteering was set up by the England
Volunteering Development Council to create a long term vision for
volunteering. The Commission chaired by Baroness Neuberger, published its
final report, Manifesto for Change on 25th January 2008.
In response to the Commission’s report Phil Hope, Minister for the Third
Sector, said:
“Manifesto for Change presents a compelling case for action so I
am pleased to accept most of the recommendations, in some cases with more
investment than that asked for. The Government is committed to opening up
volunteering opportunities for people in all parts of society because it
gives so much to the community and so much to the volunteer. I thank the
Commission on the Future of Volunteering for all their excellent
work."
The Commission’s report includes recommendations for government, the third
and the private sector. Acting on the recommendations to it the Government
will:
-
Invest £4million in new training programmes for volunteers and volunteer
managers.
-
Invest £2million to create a new access to volunteering fund for disabled
people.
-
Produce guidance to help avoid unnecessary criminal records checks being
carried out.
-
Improve coordination of volunteering by civil servants.
-
Support existing events to promote volunteering.
The Government will not be taking forward some of the
recommendations. Existing programmes are already investing in local
volunteering infrastructure so the recommendation for investment in this
area will not be acted on. Also there will not be a Cabinet Minister level
post for Volunteering, as existing government structures already give
volunteering powerful representation.
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