Volunteers are also called on to provide a variety of advocacy and befriending services. Telephone support and advice services are kept running by volunteers. So do The Samaritans, turned to by those whose problems lead them to contemplate suicide. Women's refuges, domestic violence support groups and so on are also kept going by volunteers. Wherever we look, volunteers are at work.
Volunteers see a problem, and get involved in action to solve it.
As well as being an opportunity, partnerships impose extra demands on voluntary projects and volunteers. But unless the infrastructure and systems to support their involvement are provided for, they will feel that the Government is trying to offload onto their unpaid time tasks that properly fall to the state, local authorities and other statutory agencies. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity in access to membership, goods and services. National Centre for Volunteering, 2001.