Volunteering Expenses and Equal Opportunities



Many VIOs (Volunteer Involving Organisations) either do not seem to be aware or are reluctant to regard childcare and other caring costs as reasonable "volunteering expenses", which can therefore be included in funding applications. Why in this age of inclusion are organisations reluctant to include childcare and other caring expenses as part of volunteer expenses in funding applications?

Firstly, organisations may not even be aware that they can include childcare as an expense in a similar way to how they incorporate volunteer travel expenses. Secondly some organisations may feel that they are more likely to succeed with their funding application if they apply for a modest amount. In this type of case scenario volunteer expenses is usually the first thing that are reduced or left out completely.

The reimbursement of childcare (and other care expenses) is according to Volunteer England "an equal opportunities issue" (Volunteer England 2007). If VIOs want to succeed in recruiting and retaining volunteers that are currently under - represented but are truly committed (e.g. mothers with young children, carers) then they should ensure that childcare expenses are included in all funding applications.

Volunteer England guidance suggests that "any reasonable expense incurred as part of voluntary work should be reimbursed" (Volunteer England, 2007). This includes: Volunteering can only be inclusive if volunteering opportunities are made more accessible to a diverse range of groups within wider society. For this to happen VIOs need to realise that reimbursing the costs of childcare / and care of other dependents is an equal opportunities issue that needs to be addressed by the sector as a whole.

For further information on Volunteer Expenses - Good Practise refer to:

www.volunteering.org.uk/Resources/goodpracticebank/Information/volunteerexpenses.htm