In response to anticipated Conservative Social Justice Policy Review Group recommendations for incentivising young people to volunteer, Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of UK volunteering charity CSV, said:

“We’re in favour of encouraging volunteering. People are motivated by a range of different factors.

“Tickets to rock concerts, entry to the Olympics or items for a CV are all factors that encourage or sustain volunteers.

“11 million people are waiting to be asked to volunteer. The real challenge is to ask these people to participate.

“There is a social inclusion issue. The families of many young people cannot afford to volunteer unless support is available. CSV believes everyone should have the chance to volunteer. Without reimbursement volunteering would be limited to the rich.”

(Issued: Monday 9th July 2007)

Further press information: Jason Tanner, CSV Press Office on 020 7812 0037/ 07941 433598

Notes for editors

1) More information about the anticipated proposals from the Social Justice Policy Group: www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk  . Recommendations from the Social Justice Policy Group, will be released on Tuesday 10 July 2007

2) CSV (Community Service Volunteers) is the UK’s leading volunteering and training charity and creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action. Last Year, 227,000 people gave over 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. www.csv.org.uk