Sir – As a regular volunteer with two Oxford Organisations (East Oxford Farmers’ Market and Good Food Oxford) I find the latest proposal for paid leave for volunteering to be ill-informed and insulting.
It neither rewards nor recognises the vast amount of volunteering already happening, often by now skilled and experienced people who do not fit in to the category of working for an employer of 250+ employees.
Volunteers are a passionate, driven breed.
This legislation will inundate voluntary organisations with an army of uncommitted people looking for a few easy days off work, whilst their employers and colleagues struggle to fulfil their workload.
The best and most productive volunteers are long-term, regular experienced people.
The solution is to enable existing and potential volunteers by offering tax credits, flexible hours and reduced costs of living through access to affordable housing.
I note that it is not the Government but the employer who will be picking up the bill, and that the Government will continue to reap the income tax paid on the three days’ paid leave.
At least they could provide some relief from that.
Matt Dale
Oxford
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