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Government announcement on organisations receiving £6.5m earmarked to provide volunteering opportunities for unemployed

By Kate Bowgett - Posted on 09 April 2009

Third Sector reports that the government has announced that the £6.5 million pounds earmarked in ithe Third Sector Action Plan to offer volunteer opportunities to people who are long term unemployed will go to BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) as a prime contacter, with CSV, V, and Volunteering England as subcontractors. According to the article

" Job centres will give people who have been unemployed for more than six months a volunteering freephone number for Doncaster-based BTCV. The organisation then has five days to consult with its subcontractors on the opportunities that are available before coming up with an offer."

BTCV may seem a surprising choice as a lead body in the partnership, given that they only deal with a very specific type of volunteering, but they have delivered welfare to work programmes for the DWP in the past. It will be interesting to see how the partnership develops.

You can read the full article here: http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/DailyBulletin/897421/Volunteering-char...

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I agree that BTCV are not the

Submitted by Nikki Squelch on Thu, 09/04/2009 - 10:29pm.

I agree that BTCV are not the obvious choice and furthermore it will be interesting to see how VMs can engage with sub-contractors to promote our volunteering opportunities. Its one of those things that makes me sigh - how many times in how many different places do we have to place our volunteer vacancies - it makes VMs experts in diverse marketting and advertising techniques, it may make me sigh, but it is so important to engage so that we can benefit. Lets hopw it will benefit our organisations.

Nikki - AVM Member

Any solutions?

Submitted by Tony Newby on Sat, 25/04/2009 - 9:26am.

I agree with the sentiment "how many times in how many different places do we have to place our volunteer vacancies" however if you have any ideas of how to avoid this let me know.

Putting this scheme together has been done over a short period, we are still working our way round/through the issues arising and I am happy to listen to all useful suggestions.

Thanks

Submitted by paddaniels on Sat, 25/04/2009 - 11:44am.

Thanks for joining this discussion! It would be great to be able to take up any issues with you directly as the scheme develops.

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Patrick Daniels

Online Volunteering and Advice Manager - YouthNet