Volunteering England Launches Manifesto
April 2010

Volunteering England has launched its pre-election manifesto “The Power of Volunteering” and a pre-election pledge that they are asking all MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates to sign.
 
The manifesto offers positive steps the next Government can take to strengthen volunteering as well as advice for how business, public bodies and voluntary and community groups rise to the challenge of helping volunteering to flourish.  So far, over 200 MPs and candidates have shown their support for volunteering by signing up to the pledge which states:

“I will work hard to support volunteers and organisations that involve volunteers, both in my constituency and across the country.
I will do this by:
· Recognising the value of volunteering in building a strong society

· Promoting positive messages about volunteering

· Encouraging more people to give their time by helping free volunteers from
red-tape

· Supporting the organisations who support volunteers”

Volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations can play a valuable role in ensuring volunteering remains high on the political agenda as the election approaches. By engaging with your MP and candidates in the run up to the election, you can help to build support for volunteering locally and nationally. It is also an ideal opportunity to showcase the work of your organisation and forge long term links with politicians in your area.

Further information on this campaign can be found at www.volunteering.org.uk