19 September 2006

London, UK: UK Social exclusion Minister Hilary Armstrong today visited Mencap in Preston to mark the announcement of almost £1m of funding to increase volunteering by those at risk of social exclusion.

Mencap is one of five frontline organizations that is receiving funding from the "Volunteering for All" programme, run by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.

The funding will go towards tackling the barriers that prevent volunteering among black and minority ethnic groups, people without qualifications, and those who are disabled or suffer with long-term illness.

At Mencap, Hilary Armstrong listened to the experiences of people with learning disabilities whose volunteering has been a path to gaining qualifications and full-time employment.

Hilary Armstrong said: "Too many of the most vulnerable members of our society are missing out on the chance to volunteer - to build skills and qualifications, develop self-confidence, and use their own experiences to help others.

"Right across groups at risk of social exclusion, volunteering is an extremely powerful way to enable people rise to the tough challenges they face on a daily basis. At present only 6% of people with learning disabilities volunteer - and it is by helping to fund the incredibly valuable work of organisations like Mencap that we aim to increase that number."

In addition to Mencap, four other third sector organisations are receiving funding in today's announcement: Scope, Timebanks UK, Timebank and Volunteer Reading Help.

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector working with Hilary Armstrong in the Cabinet Office, said: "Over 20million people volunteer on a monthly basis across the UK and numbers are rising, but crucially the most socially excluded are struggling to take advantage of these opportunities and the benefits they bring.

"Volunteering for All will put essential funding into frontline organisations to open up volunteering opportunities to some of the hardest reach groups in society - enriching their own lives and strengthening the communities in which they live."

The Volunteering for All programme targets those at risk of social exclusion with three main aims:

• To tackle barriers to volunteering;
• To raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering;
• To create new volunteering opportunities;

Welcoming their part of the new funding, Mencap Chief Executive Jo Williams said: "We are delighted at being awarded funding for Volunteering for all. An inclusive approach to volunteering, where everyone is given the opportunity to contribute in a positive way to their local community, is essential in changing peoples attitudes to socially excluded groups, such as people with a learning disability."