Funding risk to volunteering

A report published by The King’s Fund has found that, unless a more strategic approach is taken, financial pressures risk undermining the use of volunteers in health and social care. It is believed that an estimated 3m people in England volunteer in social care, the NHS, and health charities, adding significant value to the work of paid staff. However, the report suggests that if the right steps are not taken, the funding squeeze in the NHS and cuts to local authority budgets could have a significant impact on volunteering. It found that financial pressures are prompting concerns about the motivation of public bodies in using volunteers and heightening sensitivities about them ‘substituting’ for paid staff in future.