Oral Answers to Questions

Duncan Hames Excerpts

Wednesday 15th June 2011 Commons Chamber

The Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked—

[Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD)]

1. What plans his Department has to help match young people with volunteering opportunities.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

We are investing in the national citizen service, which will be very powerful in connecting young people with their own power to make a contribution to the community. In addition, we will invest £40 million over the next two years to support volunteering infrastructure and social action.

[Duncan Hames]

I thank the Minister. Grow, the organisation behind Wiltshire’s volunteer centre in Chippenham, is keen to extend the range of support it provides in matching young people with volunteering opportunities as part of Wiltshire council’s volunteer strategy and action plan. Will the new local infrastructure fund be able to support such initiatives, be they in Wiltshire or elsewhere?

[Mr Hurd]

I was in Devizes constituency in Wiltshire on Friday, and I recognise that Wiltshire council represents best practice in many ways in supporting local voluntary organisations and local infrastructure. I am delighted about the local infrastructure fund, because it will help existing infrastructure assets become even more efficient and effective in supporting front-line voluntary organisations and encouraging local people to get involved.