House of Commons · Westminster Hall
20 June 2023 · 3 other contributors · 4,327 words
Opened by Anthony Mangnall Con Totnes
Responding minister: Stuart Andrew
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Anthony Mangnall raised concerns about volunteer groups in rural settings in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
I ask the Minister to provide details on how much of the £5 million platinum jubilee village hall fund has been allocated and if any extension is being considered. Additionally, I want information on the UK search and rescue volunteer training fund's annual training numbers and bidding process efficiency. Lastly, I seek clarity on the future allocation of the volunteering futures fund to ensure certainty for local organizations.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
I am concerned about the significant role volunteer groups play in rural communities across south Devon and the UK. They support events, local services, and vital initiatives like LandWorks, which has a reoffending rate of only 6% compared to national averages of 36.7% for imprisonment and 28.8% for community sentences. The decline in volunteer numbers since the pandemic is also worrying, with statistics showing this trend.
Commends the hon. Gentleman for bringing forward an important subject and highlights the prevalence of isolation among farmers, citing data from Northern Ireland indicating that 33% of farmers express concerns about loneliness and isolation. He mentions young farmers' clubs as a vital tool in combating mental health issues.
I agreed with Anthony Mangnall's points about the importance of volunteer groups, highlighting how rural communities come together in times of need. During the pandemic, fisheries and farming groups banded together to support their community.
Congratulates the hon. Gentleman on his speech, emphasizing the work of B4RN, a community interest company connecting rural homes to high-speed internet through volunteers. He raises concerns about government decisions that undermine volunteer efforts in Warcop, Sandford, Coupland Beck, Bleatarn and Ormside.
Government Response
Stuart AndrewIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes for securing this important debate on volunteering in rural settings. Volunteering is vital for society and provides enormous benefits both to the volunteer and to the community they serve. The Government are committed to supporting volunteering. Our latest figures show that around 25 million people in England volunteered at least once in the previous 12 months. We have provided funding through initiatives like Vision for Volunteering, which aims to develop volunteering in England over the next 10 years, and the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, a £30 million package that includes £10 million from the National Lottery Community Fund. This fund will widen participation in volunteering and tackle loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas in England. The voluntary sector has a vital role to play in emergencies such as flooding and heatwaves, and the Government are strengthening links between emergency responders and the voluntary sector through initiatives like the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership. We have also provided over £7 million through the volunteering futures fund to improve accessibility of volunteering. I am proud of our record in developing volunteering in England, supporting strategic initiatives such as Vision for Volunteering and directly funding projects through various funds.