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Tuesday Jul 25, 2006
Lunch expenses campaign update
"Crusading" might not be a word that is often associated with Volunteering England but their response to the Department of Work and Pension's (DWP) recently published guidance on lunch expenses for volunteers in benefits has been loud and vigorous.
They've issued press releases, written letters and set up a special campaign page where visitors can follow the action and see if their MP has signed Diane Abbot's Early Day Motion.
The most recent letter is from Baroness Hanham of Kensington CBE, Chair of the England Volunteering Development Council, and the stakes have been raised. The letter is copied to DWP Secretary of State, John Hutton, and Third Sector Minister, Ed Miliband, but it is addressed to the Prime Minister.
On the basis of Home office and Department and Work of Pension figures we estimate that there are almost 2,000,000 people in receipt of benefits who volunteer. These volunteers are some of the most marginalised people in our society. For these people especially, volunteering has a major role to play in their lives and personal development. Volunteering enables people living on benefits to feel that they play a valuable part in the life of our nation, contributing to integration, community cohesion and social capital.
The issue pits two of Tony Blair's pet policy themes against each other - social inclusion (paying lunch expenses) versus attacking 'the benefits culture' (not paying them). Which one will win out?
Posted by Tom Green ( 9:42 AM ) Link to this post Comments[1]