Attended by over 80 academics,
practitioners, and policy makers, participants considered the value
of volunteering in current political and economic climate domestically,
and across the EU. Participants considered how volunteering could
contribute to delivering the European Social Fund programme in England.
The event enjoyed a series of presentations, which
are available to download below.
Participants also heard from people whose lives
had been changed through volunteering. Liam Clements, who experienced
volunteering at CSV
Ipswich Media Clubhouse explained:
"I felt the whole experience turned me into
a leader and a great communicator, and I'm now very optimistic"
Tamara Flanagan (TSEN, Chair) commented on current
policy approaches:
"It is clear that, whilst good work is being
done in the UK, there are concerns that some current policy approaches
might limit the extent to which volunteering helps people and contributes
to our society - we must find new outcomes to reward, and new ways
of evaluating them'
In a cafe style debate which followed the presentations,
particpants discussed in groups according to their practice (e.g.
third sector / academic / policy makers) responses to 3 questions
on the value of volunteering. The ares then mixed in the second
half of the debate to bring together different approaches of solving
the same issues.
Seminar
Report - The Value of Volunteering
Dr
Jeremy Kendall, University of Kent
Frances
Tomlinson, London Metropolitan University
Leo
Coenders, Humanitas - Netherlands
Sarah
Benioff, Office of the Third Sector
Zoe
Alexander, Department of Work and Pensions
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