Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will facilitate volunteering support for Ukrainian refugees for the purposes of enabling people to contribute to civil society while learning English.

Volunteering can play a role in building social connectedness, and can support volunteers to learn new skills or develop existing ones, including learning English. DCMS is focusing its efforts on removing barriers to participation in volunteering and supporting a more inclusive volunteering experience, including for those arriving from Ukraine. Through the £7.4 million Volunteering Futures Fund volunteering opportunities are being created to remove barriers to participation in the arts, culture, sports, civil society, youth and heritage sectors.

The Government recognises that civil society has, and continues, to play a crucial role in the response to Ukraine. Since May 2020, DCMS has funded the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) to help build capacity in the voluntary sector in responding to emergencies. The VCSEP and its partners have been active in assisting those arriving from Ukraine, including supporting the development of the Homes for Ukraine programme and targeted support.