Individuals and corporations can receive significant tax relief by giving to charity. This is particularly noticeable in these times of record profits. That will only change through a combination of peer pressure and consumer insistence. Consumers also have a role to play by persistently and vocally encouraging businesses they deal with to be active members of the community. Giving money is not enough.
Businesses also have a role to play in actively encouraging volunteerism and giving.
They can do so by setting a standard of participation at the executive level. The voluntary sector itself has to take much of the blame for its low profile. Much fine work has been done in splendid isolation, limiting its possible impact. Had charities, particularly with the financial means and political access, spoken up earlier, some of the devastation of cutbacks might have been avoided. The formation of broadly based groups like the Voluntary Sector Roundtable is a welcome initiative.