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The headlines

The headlines . Volunteer centre Liverpool . Reasons/motivations for volunteering . There has been a pronounced shift towards using and promoting volunteering as a vehicle for enhancing employability skills and opportunities.  

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The headlines

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  1. The headlines Volunteer centre Liverpool

  2. Reasons/motivations for volunteering • There has been a pronounced shift towards using and promoting volunteering as a vehicle for enhancing employability skills and opportunities.   • VCL understands this, but our view is that it is vital that we don’t overlook or forget those people who choose to volunteer purely for the love of doing so, and for the wellbeing benefits that both volunteers and beneficiaries experience.

  3. Work Programme • Issues have been identified particularly in relation to Community Work Placements and the Help to Work Programme.   • VCL has announced that we will not support this programme (see our website for more on this), and our view is echoed by Liverpool City Council and other partners.   • VCL’s view is that it creates a 2-tier system; those who choose to give their time freely to help their communities and those who are coerced to do so under threat of sanction.   • Whilst VCL recognises that the face of volunteering is changing, we will seek to protect the core values of volunteering & voluntary action, both through our support services to VIO’s and through our continued engagement (alongside our colleague Volunteer Centres) with agencies such as DWP.

  4. Public Service Delivery & Job substitution • The impact of funding cuts and the loss/reduction of public services in Liverpool raises some difficult questions for our sector regarding where the responsibility for the delivery of services lies, and the continued or additional involvement of volunteers within these services; all at a time when voluntary sector infrastructure is under particular pressure locally. • VCL intends to work with communities to support the survival of local resources wherever possible.   • We will also give strong voice wherever we can to the resourcing needs of voluntary-led initiatives and volunteering.

  5. Welfare Benefits and the introduction of Universal Credit • Ongoing changes to the Welfare Benefits system is causing confusion for volunteer involving organisations and their volunteers as well as creating a climate of fear and uncertainty regarding continuing as or becoming a volunteer.   • These changes are having a direct impact on the ability of voluntary groups/charities to recruit and retain volunteers. • VCL will work to support VIO’s understanding of how welfare benefits policy continues to impact upon volunteering & volunteers. • We are also re-looking at what more we can offer to support VIO’s in effective volunteer retention.

  6. Austerity • Research has shown that during times of significant austerity volunteer participation actually decreases.   • Organisations are increasingly having to explore different ways and means of promoting volunteering.   • This includes improving marketing strategies, changing the language of volunteering and providing more short term or one off volunteering opportunities rather than the emphasis being on longer term involvement. • VCL will be looking at how it can design support services to VIO’s that are specific & relevant to their volunteering needs, and can embrace new forms of volunteering, such as Employee Supported Volunteering and micro-volunteering.

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