The voluntary sector is benefiting from a surge in volunteers as redundundancies and poor employment prospects continue. The veterinary charity PDSA today reported a 21% increase in the number of volunteering enquiries during the first half of 2009.

PDSA says workers losing their jobs are fuelling a volunteering boom as they look to maintain or enhance their skills. In response the charity is planning a special 'Lend a Paw' focus week (3 – 8 August).

Janet Compton, PDSA Head of Volunteering, said:

"Our figures show that an increasing number of people are volunteering as a way of maintaining self esteem and a regular routine."

Katy Mowat, 29 from Edinburgh, is a Cambridge graduate, who worked as an Investment Fund Manager for eight years before being made redundant in October 2008.

After taking the decision to have a gap year, Katy now volunteers her time for free at the PDSA charity shop on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, where she is a Key Volunteer,. She received free training from the charity for the role and assists the management team with the day-to-day running of the shop.

Katy said:

"It was a shock at first but I can now see the benefits of being made redundant. It's had a very positive impact and the experience has been life changing. I've met a wide variety of people that my previous job wouldn't have enabled. No two days are the same and I always have a funny story to share with my husband.

"One thing I wasn't expecting is that my voluntary roles can be busier than my last job. But it's a different type of stress as ultimately it's helping a worthy cause."

Apprenticeships in the Third Sector

This month the National Apprenticeship Service, (NAS) approved a submission for development funding of apprenticeships within the voluntary sector to go forward to the next stage.

This would mean that under the Group Training Association umbrella, organisations in the third sector would benefit from funding for apprenticeships and other programmes designed to improve the skills of their workforce and volunteers.

The next bidding stage is expected to complete by September.

Lend a Paw

To encourage more people to try volunteering, PDSA has launched 'Lend a Paw week', which runs from 3 to 8 August at all of the charity's 179 shops. The concept is based on the idea of speed dating, whereby people curious about taking on a voluntary role can visit their local PDSA shop for a taster session lasting less than an hour, with no pressure or commitment to sign up.

More information is available from www.pdsa.org.uk.

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley      

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