A strike for a day would 'show volunteers worth' 3

Finance | Vibeka Mair | 8 Apr 2008

If every volunteer in the UK went on strike for a day it would demonstrate the critical role they play in society, CSV executive director Dame Elisabeth Hoodless has suggested.

Hoodless (pictured) told Charity News Alert that a “volunteer strike” would certainly raise the profile of volunteering, though she accepted the idea was unlikely to ever come to fruition.

“Volunteers are rarely appreciated or thanked,” she said. “But people would notice if they disappeared for a day. There would be no public events without the Red Cross, no school outings without unpaid helpers and plenty of missed hospital appointments without volunteers to drive people.”

Raising volunteering's profile

Research into the impact of volunteering on society will be part of a CSV paper on raising the profile of volunteering due out later this year.

The financial impact of volunteering may also be included in the paper. Hoodless said it was an “insult” that HM Treasury ignored the £40bn contribution that volunteers made to the country’s GDP.

The paper may also highlight Hoodless’s concerns about the absence of volunteers at the top end of the honours lists. “I’ve never seen a volunteer be made a knight or dame in the New Year’s honours list,” said Hoodless.

“The Department of Health also has an expensive awards campaign to recognise the contributions to the NHS and there is no category for volunteers. This is the same for the Department for Children, Schools and Families which has an award for teachers that does not include volunteers.”

Who's Who: Vibeka Mair

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Derek Hughes
Secretary
Prestatyn Central Surgery L.O.F.
15 Apr 2008

I agree with every word in Dame Hoodless's article. Voluteers are so neglected by local and national government it's no surprise comparatively very few younger people volunteer.

[Reply]

Fran Luke
Community fundraising officer
RSPB
9 Apr 2008

Volunteers are a fabulous resource and, as a charity, we would be lost without them. They are wonderful, generous people and I agree that they should be recognised by government and in awards schemes, but a strike would bring many charities, both large and small, to a standstill. Many of us do acknowledge, thank and thoroughly appreciate our volunteers and I would hope that they know that. A strike would affect those that already know the vital role that volunteers play, but not necessarily those who need to.

[Reply]

Richard
9 Apr 2008

Dame Elisabeth has made an important point here; the tax regime also fails to recognise the value of volunteers - the people who don't go to paid work and who in effect don't exist in terms of tax allowances or national insurance. Their contribution to society and the economy is vast but not acknowledged. However, long may volunteering continue.

[Reply]

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