Benefit fears ‘put people off volunteering’
People on benefits are being put off volunteering by fears that it would result in their weekly income being reduced or cut, a survey by Citizens Advice reveals.
And the charity warns that organisations dependent on volunteers are missing out on a “vast untapped pool of potential talent”.
It urges the government and voluntary groups to improve awareness of volunteering among those on benefits, and presses for greater cooperation between Jobcentre staff and those groups.
Nine in ten of Citizens Advice clients on benefits said their local Jobcentre had never given them any explanation of the impact volunteering could have on their benefits.
Citizens Advice chief executive David Harker said the results were “shocking and worrying” and urged the government to ensure as many people were made aware of the option volunteering as possible.
