Employability and volunteering The white paper emphasises the importance of developing skills and experience to improve employability. Members of the Employees in the Community Network recognise voluntary activity as an important contributor to staff development, benefiting not only employer and employee but also wider society. Recognition by the Employment Service that volunteering helps job-seekers gain skills and experience which in turn, help their chances of paid employment, is also important. Ministers have acknowledged this. We feel, however, that the current 48 hours notice is too short to allow for people taking on voluntary positions involving responsibility or project work.
People receiving state benefits are generally keen to find paid employment.
If Government concerns to build 'community capacity' are not to be undermined, then more than two days notice is necessary. Knowing that volunteering would improve skills, help achieve qualifications and benefit their careers were important motivations for around half of those surveyed, as was volunteering as part of a group of work colleagues. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity in access to membership, goods and services. National Centre for Volunteering, 2001.