A report outlined the benefits of volunteering for older people, in terms of providing a sense of purpose, opportunities for self-development, and building confidence. Older volunteers were helping to break down isolation for both themselves and their communities.
Source: Gillian Dalley, Retire into Action: A study of the benefits of volunteering to older people, Community Service Volunteers (020 7278 6601)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSV press release
Date: 2004-Dec
Researchers found that approximately 2.8 million people in England and Wales participated in employer-supported schemes for giving in 2001.
Source: Rebecca Hardy, Employer-supported Volunteering and Giving: Findings from the 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey, Research Study 280, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Study (pdf) | Home Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Oct
A study found that although many young people had positive views of volunteering - seeing it as an opportunity to gain skills and experience and put something back into society - a minority dismissed it as being boring and not cool .
Source: Generation V: Young people speak out on volunteering, Institute for Volunteering Research (020 7520 8900)
Links: Summary | IVR press release
Date: 2004-Sep
Parliamentary progress was halted on a private member's Bill (Promotion of Volunteering Bill) after it was 'talked out' by an MP. The Bill was aimed at reducing the burden of regulation and the risk of litigation to those who volunteered.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 16 July 2004, columns 1643-1720, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report said that strong leadership and training within library services were vital if encouraging community involvement through volunteering in libraries were to succeed.
Source: Shared Intelligence, CSV Lending Time Pilot Project, Community Service Volunteers (020 7278 6601)
Links: Young People Now report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report looked at the role of volunteering in reducing social exclusion, the challenges faced in making volunteering more inclusive, and the steps taken by organisations in overcoming these barriers. It highlighted the barriers to formal volunteering faced by individuals from black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, and people with a record of offending.
Source: Volunteering for All?: Exploring the link between volunteering and social exclusion, Institute for Volunteering Research (020 7520 8900)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
The Scottish Executive published a strategy document on volunteering. It said that some groups of people, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the unemployed, the long-term sick and disabled, the poor, and those lacking in formal qualifications, were consistently under-represented in volunteering, although they appear no less willing than others to volunteer.
Source: Volunteering Strategy, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-May
A new body, Volunteering England, was created on 1 April 2004 from a merger between The National Centre for Volunteering, Volunteer Development England and The Consortium on Opportunities for Volunteering. The new organisation set out plans to streamline the sector in England.
Source: Press release 1 April 2004, Volunteering England (0845 305 6979)
Links: Volunteering England press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Apr
A volunteering charity said that it wanted every public service to set targets for citizen engagement to tackle crime, health and social problems. It challenged hospitals, prisons and schools to increase the number of volunteers working with them.
Source: Reports on Civil Renewal, Community Service Volunteers (020 7278 6601)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSV press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Apr
A report provided an evaluation of whether a change in the 48-hour rule for people on jobseeker s allowance who did voluntary work had had the desired effect of increasing volunteering by unemployed people and encouraging voluntary organisations to make better use of them. The research presented the views and experiences of 100 Jobcentre Plus staff and voluntary organisations. The rule change was widely welcomed, with the voluntary organisations unanimously positive about it and Jobcentre Plus staff generally in favour.
Source: Katharine Gaskin, Volunteering and Availability for Work: Evaluation of the change to Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations, W190, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 209 8274)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A second reading was given to a private member's Bill aimed at reducing the burden of regulation and the risk of litigation to those who volunteer. It would introduce a 'statement of inherent risk' which would be presented to people undertaking activities managed by volunteers or voluntary organisations. Courts would have regard to this in proceedings for negligence or breach of statutory duty. The government expressed serious reservations about the Bill.
Source: Promotion of Volunteering Bill, Julian Brazier MP, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 5 March 2004, columns 1151-1204, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Hansard | HOC Library research paper (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
An article said that between 1995 and 2000 the amount of unpaid adult care provided in the United Kingdom increased by around 10 per cent. The value of voluntary work done in the same period fell by almost 26 per cent.
Source: Perry Francis and Harminder Tiwana, 'Unpaid household production in the United Kingdom, 1995 2000', Economic Trends, January 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan