The latest study into volunteering has been published, calling on government to recognise volunteering as a legitimate job-seeking activity, and recommending a flexible day off to encourage its take-up.

Run by Baroness Sally Morgan, the Morgan Inquiry produced a number of recommendations to deal with problems faced by 18 to 24 year-olds around volunteering. Among its recommendations were an award scheme to acknowledge skills developed through volunteering, and better signposting of voluntary opportunities.

Baroness Morgan said: “Everyone says volunteering is a good thing. But it is not always straightforward to get involved. I hope that our recommendations will make a difference in clearing the way for young adults to make the most of volunteering. Furthermore we hope that this report will instil a greater sense of flexibility in government, businesses, academia and the third sector in making this possible.”

However, the report has been met with criticism. Worldwide Volunteering, while welcoming some of the report’s recommendations, said it was nowhere near as comprehensive as the 2004 Russell Commission report, or the more recent Commission on the Future of Volunteering report – led by Baroness Neuberger.

It said the Morgan Inquiry merely repeated some essential recommendations made by Baroness Neuberger, including recognition of volunteering as legitimate job seeking activity and stopping the hours spent volunteering interfering with benefits.

It also said that the Inquiry complained of the masses of bureaucracy surrounding government legislation over volunteering, but that some of its recommendations would, in fact, add to the confusion of which it complains.

To view the report in full visit www.morganinquiry.org.uk