‘Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care'
October 2009

This document sets out the messages heard during a consultation process that was carried out through nine regional workshops held around England, an on-line questionnaire; and detailed written responses received by the Department of Health. It sets out the key themes identified and outlines how the DH intends to take forward work to develop a substantive strategy on volunteering in health and social care.

The consultation document describes a more coherent vision to the value volunteering activities bring to the health, well-being and social care system. Establishing a coherent vision would: raise the esteem and profile of volunteering; improve management and support of volunteers; allow more investment; and support evaluation of outcomes and benefits. To achieve this, the vision for volunteering in health and social care needs:

• support for individual volunteers;
• effective management within organisations
• commissioning environment and infrastructure
• promoting partnership; and
• leadership.

Some debate and discussions were raised around specific questions, which will need to be considered when developing the substantive volunteering strategy.

For more information contact the Department of Health Third Sector Partnership Team on 0113 2546259 or email volunteeringstrategy@dh.gov.uk. Alternatively, contact Maria Tunmer at KVA on 020 8255 3335.