“Big Society” volunteering charity wins top award as survey shows gap between attitudes towards volunteering improving society and those prepared to volunteer themselves

CSV (Community Service Volunteers), a charity that demonstrates the practical and effective role volunteers can play in delivering public services has won one of the most prestigious awards in the charity sector.

Their pioneering project “Volunteers in Child Protection” in which volunteers have provided support to 130 disadvantaged families with children suffering from abuse and neglect demonstrates how the Prime Minister’s vision for a “Big Society” can work.

(Issued by the Charity Awards)

But a survey of 1,000 adults conducted this month by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) shows that although 75% of people agree  that volunteering for charities plays an important part in improving society, just over one in three (35%) say they  are certain or very likely to volunteer in the next twelve months. The survey also found that most people (71%) agree that those who volunteer benefit personally.

CSV, the UK’s leading volunteering charity, was presented with the Overall award for excellence by Nick Hurd MP, the Civil Society Minister at the Charity Awards annual gala dinner last night (10th June).

And whilst questions have been raised about whether volunteers could or should be involved in delivering public services, particularly in such complex circumstances as those tackled by CSV, the charity puts the programme’s success firmly down to the involvement of volunteers. Crucially, the fact that volunteers are unpaid and choose to support the families because they want to, helps to foster mutual trust and respect, whilst parents who are often reluctant to work with social workers and other authorities because of the stigma they can bring, welcome the support and encouragement volunteers provide because it is not seen as judgemental or threatening.  After a three year pilot, the project now supports over 130 families and 400 children.

John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation said:

 “CSV has ably demonstrated that, with the correct training and support, volunteers can have a transformational effect, turning chaotic, dysfunctional homes into stable safe environments.  This was a brave, groundbreaking initiative, not without inherent risks, but to realise the vision of a big society, we must build on such examples of men and women around the country giving freely of their time and emotional energy to shape their communities for the better.  Everyone gains.”
    
Daniel Phelan, organiser of the Charity Awards 2010 comments:

“The idea of a Big Society may be viewed with scepticism but CSV proves that volunteers can and do bring a fresh, non-threatening approach to the lives of people in crisis. 

Offering help to those who need it is not just the job of professionals but the responsibility of the community.  There is clearly a huge number of people all over the country able to help others but more needs to be done to encourage them to get out and volunteer.  I do believe that with the help of charities like CSV volunteers can make a real difference.    

I’m delighted CSV has won the top award.  It is a fantastic organisation and the award is thoroughly deserved. I congratulate everyone involved.”

The charity, which has pioneered the idea of putting volunteers at the heart of delivering public services for nearly 50 years, was presented with the award by Nick Hurd MP who, as the new Minister for Civil Society, is at the forefront of delivering the government’s ‘Big Society’. 

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For more information about Community Service Volunteers (CSV) please contact:
Melissa Goss on mgoss@csv.org.uk 020 7812 0037 / 07725 808 052 or Jason Tanner on jtanner@csv.org.uk 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433 598
For more information about Volunteers in Child Protection visit www.csv.org.uk/vicp.