29 January 2007
Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, chairman of the Local Government Association, is calling on those who work or volunteer in the public sector to contribute to England’s biggest ever volunteering consultation.
Lord Bruce-Lockhart is a member of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering, an independent body established to develop a long-term vision for volunteering in England. Drawing on feedback from the consultation, the Commission will make a series of recommendations for how the volunteering landscape should develop over the next ten years, including realistic proposals for delivery.
The Commission is encouraging feedback under the following three headings:
- The relationship between volunteering and government
- Volunteering is for all
- Developing a culture of volunteering.
It is also holding a series of regional workshops in which local government workers can air their views face to face with representatives of the Commission.
Lord Bruce-Lockhart said:
“Public services such as the NHS, schools and the emergency services, would struggle to survive without the dedicated commitment of volunteers and I would urge all those with a stake in these services to have their say.
“The Commission wants to hear from those who volunteer and those who work with volunteers so that they can inform and influence the review’s recommendations. We would particularly welcome the views of people who might not traditionally consider responding to a consultation in order to get a truly representative picture of volunteering in England today. By speaking out, you can be assured that your views on the current state of volunteering, and how you think things should change, will be heard by those whose responsibility it is to shape the future of volunteering.”
Notes to editors:
- The Commission on the Future of Volunteering was established by the England Volunteering Development Council (EVDC) to develop a long term vision for volunteering in England as a legacy of the Year of the Volunteer 2005. It is sponsored by the Volunteering Hub and supported by Volunteering England. The Commission is due to present its findings in autumn 2007.
- Evidence forms can be downloaded from www.volcomm.org.uk , by emailing evidence@volcomm.org.uk or by writing to: Commission on the Future of Volunteering, c/o Meta Zimmeck, Volunteering England, Regent’s Wharf, 8 All Saints St, London N1 9RL. It is also possible to receive information in large format, Braille, or languages other than English. Please contact Meta with any special requirements
- Statistics from the 2005 Citizenship Survey showed that 28% of volunteers are in the public sector
Case study
Extract of evidence submitted to the Commission from Sangita Dhawan
Volunteer co-ordinator working for adult mental health services based in Nottingham.
“Public services may acquire a more human face as service delivery reflects the diversity of the volunteer workforce and their own perspectives and experiences. The volunteer’s motivation is usually not financial gain but commitment to making that service more accessible and efficient rather than just meeting some targets. Organisations where our volunteers have been placed (social services-run day centres) have spoken of their service being complemented and quality of care enhanced by volunteers who take the pressure off the staff.”
