HC Deb 23 June 1982 vol 26 cc112-3W
Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are being made to introduce the opportunities for volunteering scheme in Wales.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Aubrey Jones, managing director, Welsh Brewers (East) and hon. treasurer of the Council of Social Service for Wales has agreed to chair a committee of six which will act on my behalf in administering the scheme under which some £0.2 million will be available in Wales for expanding the opportunities for unemployed people to participate in voluntary work in the health and personal social service fields. The committee will function with administrative support from the Council of Social Service for Wales.

Applications for grants to relevant projects will be invited from voluntary organisations—whether established or ad hoc—and neighbourhood community or self-help groups, including those seeking to meet the needs of ethnic minorities. The application forms, which will be available from and should be returned to the offices of the Council for Social Service for Wales, require applicants to demonstrate how their projects will enable or encourage unemployed people to undertake voluntary work. Like the scheme in England, grants may be given, for example, towards the cost of training, volunteers' necessary expenses, the salary or office expenses of a voluntary service organiser or for limited capital items.

Participation by unemployed people in the projects receiving grants under the scheme will be entirely voluntary. Any expenses or allowances paid to volunteers must be such that they do not affect entitlement to social security benefits.

Parliamentary approval for this new scheme has been sought in the 1982–83 Main Supply Estimates for the health and personal social services element of the Welsh Office Block Vote Class XVI, Vote 1.