09/11/11

By Andrew Holt

Minister for Employment, Chris Grayling MP, has confirmed that Work Programme providers should enter into contractual relationships with voluntary organisations if they wish to access their services.

Grayling said providers and their subcontractors “should not be approaching voluntary organisations if they have not entered into, or are intending to enter into, an agreement with them and they are outside the supply chain”.

The confirmation came in a response to a letter from Mike Locke, senior policy and information manager, following concerns raised by Volunteering England members.

Some Work Programme providers have been referring their clients to Volunteer Centres without any prior approach or formal relationship in place.

Others have approached Volunteer Centres, but have been unprepared to enter into a formal agreement to pay for their services.

“This confirmation that Work Programme providers should pay voluntary organisations for their services is very welcome”, said Locke.

And added: “We have been concerned to hear that some providers are unwilling to establish subcontracts with voluntary organisations. Work Programme clients often have significant support needs and Volunteer Centres and other voluntary organisations require resources if they are to help meet them.

"It is right that any organisation being funded by the Government to deliver a contract is prepared to pay others for their work.”

Volunteering England also reported to the Minister that one of its members was approached by a private sector provider and asked to provide volunteers to help deliver one of its projects to prepare clients for employment.

It remains an isolated incident but the situation is being watched closely. Volunteering England is concerned about this because volunteers should never be considered as ‘free labour’ or a replacement for paid staff.

The involvement of volunteers in this way has the potential to undermine the unique value of volunteering and damage the image of volunteering at a time when it has a higher profile than ever.

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