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Volunteering champion

Baroness Neuberger was appointed as the Government's volunteering champion in June 2007. She is working closely with Kevin Brennan, the Minister for the Third Sector, and reporting directly to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has asked her to look at how the public services can make better use of volunteers. 

In March 2008 Baroness Neuberger published her report, Volunteering in the Public Services: Health and Social Care. The report is the first in a series examining the role of volunteers in public services. It found much potential to expand volunteering in health and social care to create more people-centred services, and a better understanding of service users.

• Volunteering in the Public Services: Health and Social Care 

Baroness Neuberger’s current work is focusing on the criminal justice system and she will be talking to various third sector organisations and Government agencies with experience in this area, and will be asking them a number of questions, including:

1. What is the extent and variety of volunteering that currently happens in the criminal justice system?
2. Why should we promote volunteering within the criminal justice system? What is its value-added?
3. How do agencies promote volunteering? Do the agencies of the criminal justice system appreciate the value of volunteering?
4. What can the Government do to reduce the barriers to volunteering within the criminal justice system?
5. Can volunteering help to rehabilitate offenders?
6. How can people from a wide range of backgrounds be encouraged to volunteer within the criminal justice system?
7. How can the Government spread good-practice in volunteer management?

If you would like to provide feedback on these questions or any other issues around the use of volunteers in public services please email Baroness Neuberger or write to the address below.

Baroness Julia Neuberger
Office of the Third Sector
2nd floor, 35 Great Smith St
London, SW1P 3BQ