Earlier in May, Conservative MP Jo Gideon urged Government to consider
“a right [for employees] to request paid leave for volunteering or amending section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to enable reasonable time off for trustee duties”, stating that “trustees play a vital role overseeing charities, but there are currently an estimated 100,000 trustee vacancies”.
Jo drew comparison to School Governors, noting that they legally qualify for a “reasonable” amount of time off to perform their duties, and that it would be deemed appropriate to give this same opportunity to trustees.
However, Civil Society Minister Stuart Andrew has urged caution over the proposal, noting that such leave could pose a significant problem for employers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, though there was still recognition that charities are facing increased demands with no more funding or volunteers being available.
It will be key for
“employers to develop their own corporate responsibility programmes and to encourage businesses, the public sector and charities to consider the role that employer-supported volunteering can play as part of their impact on society”.
There was also considerations on the uplift to the approved Mileage allowance payment making volunteering more affordable, and the impact of more charities effectively being part of the state sector which were included in a recent Civil Society article.
