Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is being urged to rethink a government proposal to make volunteering an earned route to settlement for asylum seekers.

In an open letter to Mahmood, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Kate Lee warns her that “volunteering is, by its very nature, an act freely given”.

“These proposals would link it to immigration outcomes, and we believe risks turning it into a transactional requirement rather than an expression of goodwill,” says her letter.

Three in four of more than 300 charities spoken to by NCVO oppose the proposals, she says, adding that “our members tell us that the reality is refugees and migrants already want to volunteer, and that when they do, it fosters community, integration, and belonging”.

Further concerns are that linking volunteering to immigration creates additional responsibilities for charities, including around safeguarding, supervision and reporting.

“In addition, there is a serious risk that bad actors from outside the voluntary sector could use this proposal to exploit refugees and migrants,” warns Lee.

She adds that the policy was announced without engagement with charities which “undermines” government commitments to be open and engage with the sector, as set out in its Civil Society Covenant.

In its consultation on the policy the Home Office says it “recognises the vital role that volunteers play in delivering positive change to their communities, the environment and the lives of others. Volunteers, including those who are migrants, are a valued part of British life and their contributions enrich communities across the country”.

It adds: “The Home Office is considering whether giving back to the local community, for example, through volunteering, should be recognised as a form of contribution towards earned settlement.

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