Charities' lost pool of talent

A Citizens Advice survey found that many people on benefits would like to volunteer but are put off because they think their weekly income will be cut or stopped.

The findings have been released by Burnley District Citizens Advice service to encourage local people to think about volunteering.

Nearly a quarter of its clients on benefits said they would be interested in volunteering, but only one in five was confident their benefits would not be affected.

Citizens Advice say this results in volunteer-based charities like itself missing out on a vast, untapped pool of potential talent.

But in the vast majority of cases, benefit entitlement is not affected by volunteering, and people's income will not go down.

Nine in ten clients on benefits said their local job centre had never given them any explanation of the impact volunteering could have on their benefits.

Chief executive officer, Rosemary Bowling said: "The results of our national survey are shocking and worrying.

"It shows that many people on benefits want to volunteer but are put off because they think they will be financially worse off if they do.

"We want to let people know that if they claim benefits they can still consider volunteering as an option.

"People must be given clear information to reassure them that their benefit income will not be cut or stopped as a result.

"What we are seeing instead is a terrible waste of talent that could make a huge difference to a charity like Citizens Advice that depends absolutely on volunteers. It also does many people on benefits a disservice.

"Volunteering at a place such as Burnley District Citizens Advice Service can give people the skills, confidence and experience that will help them in their quest for paid work.

"And for people who are unable to work, volunteering can boost self-esteem, provide an interesting activity in friendly surroundings, and enable them to make an important contribution to their local community."