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Office to provide new sources of volunteers |
09/03/06 |
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The
Home Office is launching a new strategy designed to promote volunteering
opportunities. Volunteering For All will be a two-year programme,
to be led by the Home Office and reaching across government, to identify
and remove barriers to volunteering.
“Volunteers really are the heart and soul of our communities, but
many potential volunteers think that opportunities to become involved are
not open to them, or that red tape is standing in their way,” said
Home Office minister Paul Goggins. “This strategy is all about removing
barriers, so that anyone who wants to volunteer can feel empowered to take
part.”
The programme will target three groups of people judged to be less likely
to volunteer by the biennial Home Office Citizenship Survey (HOCS), which
between them account for 15.5 million people: those with disabilities or
long-term illness (over 6 million); people with no formal qualifications
(almost 11 million); and people from black and ethnic minority communities
(more than 3 million). (All figures from the 2001 Census). The results of
the campaign will be monitored and evaluated through mechanisms including
the 2007 HOCS Survey and quarterly volunteering monitoring.
“This is more than a Home Office initiative,” said the Minister.
“It is a cross-government programme to really tackle the obstacles
preventing those who want to make a difference from volunteering. Working
with partners in the voluntary sector Volunteering For All with be able
to reach out to these groups, ensuring that everyone can play their part
in society.”
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