A report on how organisations could enhance volunteering across London has suggested that simpler Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks might boost volunteering across the capital.
The initial draft report says that safeguarding considerations and some level of DBS checking act as an “unnecessarily confusing barrier that delays or prevents volunteers being involved”.
Some 58% of volunteer managers suggested creating a DBS checking service similar to the driving licence check, where approved organisations can check a single DBS, could enhance the number of volunteers.
It also states that any cost acts as a barrier for organisations hoping to get volunteers involved and recommends that making DBS checking free for volunteer-involving organisations would increase volunteers.
The draft report, published on London’s Lifelines website, includes a total of 36 recommendations across volunteering themes.
These themes are volunteer management, employee volunteering and infrastructure, value and impact of volunteering, safeguarding, raising the profile of volunteering, funding and investment and flexible volunteering.
The recommendations come from volunteer stakeholders and experts across London.
Some other recommendations include research into the impact and benefits of volunteering to society, subsidies or free travel for students who are volunteering and establishing an independent body or initiative to focus on raising the profile of volunteering, among others.
‘Under-appreciated’ part of society
The report stated that volunteering is an under-appreciated but integral part of London society that brings a monetary equivalent of £35.9bn each year.
It stated: “The need for volunteering development in London national, regional and local research, as well as an abundance of anecdotal evidence, shows that rates of formal volunteering are declining across the UK, including London.
“From national charities and public sector organisations through to small charities and community groups, recruiting and retaining volunteers has become a big issue.
“For example, over 50% of the volunteer managers we engaged said it was harder to recruit volunteers compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There is no voluntary sector without volunteers. They are the lifeblood of the entire sector and a key part of how London’s society functions.
“However, the work and contribution of volunteers is often undervalued and underappreciated. Volunteering can often be seen as ‘nice to have’, as something extra, like the icing on the cake of society. You take away the icing and it is still a good cake.
“This perception is wrong. Volunteering is not the icing; it is a key ingredient of the cake itself.”
Open for feedback till January
The report authors are asking for feedback via surveys from Londoners, volunteer managers, trustees and employee volunteering.
These surveys will remain open until 24 January, and survey feedback will contribute to the final report that will be published in March 2025.
The project started in spring this year with support from Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre and Volunteer Centre Camden and the London Volunteering Strategy Group is acting as its steering group.
Report author Dominic Pinkney, chief executive of London-based not-for-profit social enterprise Works4U, said: “The report is ambitious but grounded in reality and will act as a blueprint to develop volunteering across London.”
