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All prices are inclusive of postage. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2009, this publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ 725 Equality: Volunteers[4 MARCH 2009] Equality: Volunteers 726 manager 30 years ago and have been a member of two House of Lords CAB management committees. The important point here is that the York CAB resolved the issue through Wednesday, 4 March 2009. an independent review by John Stoker. I do not wish to discuss the details of the case but it is important to 3pm learn the lessons from that review and ensure that those lessons are taken on board by other charities Prayers—read earlier at the Judicial Sitting by the and organisations with volunteers. I assure the noble Lord Bishop of Norwich. Baroness that the Government will examine the issues that the review raised and we will certainly take action where appropriate. Equality: Volunteers Question Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: My Lords, I declare Asked By Baroness Afshar an interest as president of the NCVO. If the Minister is inclined to consider further regulation of charities, To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action will she bear in mind that they are currently under they are taking to ensure that volunteers working considerable stress, financial and otherwise, given the for charities enjoy the same rights under equality economic circumstances, and be careful about the legislation as those in paid employment. additional burdens that she puts on a sector that carries out such valuable work for our society? Baroness Thornton: My Lords, the Government recognise the contribution to our society of volunteering. Baroness Thornton: My Lords, this Government We are working with volunteer organisations to ensure have done a great deal to support the third sector and that every volunteer is properly treated and has a positive charities. We have, through the Charities Act, for experience. However, the diverse nature of volunteering example, modernised the legislation as it applies to and the varied relationships between volunteers and charities, and we have supported volunteering the organisations that engage them mean that equality organisations to ensure that volunteers get a better legislation does not apply to volunteers in the same deal. We know that in the economic downturn charities way as it does to employees. However, volunteers are such as Crisis are seeing an increase in the number of currently protected from discrimination in so far as people coming forward to volunteer, and we wish to the organisation is providing goods, facilities and services support them in providing support. This Government to the public. These provisions will be retained in the have put an enormous amount of resource into supporting equality Bill and extended to cover age. the third sector because we regard it as a very important part of our civil society. Baroness Afshar: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that very helpful Answer. However, Baroness Thomas of Walliswood: My Lords, I recognise sometimes the good name of volunteers is ruined by the great service done to the nation by volunteers and unfair dismissals or accusations. In the light of the the useful route that volunteering presents to people very important contribution that they make, would it who have been out of work or unable to work for some be possible to allow them access to an ombudsman so years and want to get back into the labour market. If I that they have a route to clear their name? understood the Minister correctly, she seems not to welcome the idea of including protection for volunteers Baroness Thornton: My Lords, the noble Baroness in the equality Bill. Does she have any other legislative raises an interesting point. I know that this Question route to improve the situation for volunteers? has been precipitated by the fact that the citizens advice bureau in York, where she is from, has experienced some serious issues concerning the way in which volunteers Baroness Thornton: My Lords, volunteers are already have been managed over the past year. I am happy to covered by the current prohibition of discrimination say that they have been resolved through an independent in the provision of facilities, in the same way as anyone review by John Stoker. I can appreciate that those else, in existing anti-discrimination legislation, which volunteers might wish to draw some broader lessons will be retained within the equality Bill. Indeed, it will from their experiences about where volunteers should be extended to cover age. The equality Bill will include seek support and advice when they need it. We are not powers to ban and justify discrimination, for example, convinced that seeking employment rights under equality against older people in the provision of goods, facilities legislation is the solution, although exploring the possibility and services. We are currently taking forward those of an ombudsman may be one. developments but we are not considering legislation applying particularly to volunteers. The nature of Baroness Wilkins: My Lords, in the light of the volunteering is something that evolves through support York CAB experience, what statutory rights might the and encouragement by the organisations that deal Government think appropriate for such workers to be with volunteering. able to clear their name? Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall: My Lords, I am Baroness Thornton: My Lords, I should declare an sure that my noble friend would agree that the business interest. I have huge affection and respect for the work of volunteering, although it may occasionally throw undertaken by the CAB service. Indeed, I was a CAB up difficulties, is on the whole good not only for the 727 Equality: Volunteers[LORDS] Schools: Music 728 [BARONESS MCINTOSH OF HUDNALL] very commendable investment is not yet paying off as organisations that have volunteers but the volunteers consistently as it should. Will she ensure that an even themselves? What are the Government doing to encourage stronger message goes out from her department to all more young people into volunteering? schools, emphasising the benefits of music education not only to individual students but to the whole school Baroness Thornton: My Lords, we have been keen community? Will she perhaps place particular stress to promote volunteering across the population but on singing, which, as she and I both know, is very particularly through the creation of V, which was enjoyable and relatively cheap to deliver? launched in 2005 in the year of the volunteer. It is the new national youth volunteering programme; a charity Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: My Lords, I thank that encourages 16 to 25 year-olds to volunteer. For my noble friend for her question and for giving me the example, the British Red Cross, through V, offers opportunity to send a strong message to all those opportunities for volunteering. In April, it will be concerned about music education. We are extremely offering full-time placements for those who want to committed to making music education a reality for all commit themselves to 30 hours a week over 13 weeks. children, particularly in primary schools, where we are V also points to its success in getting young people investing significantly in the “Sing Up” campaign.