§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the purpose of the Experience Corps to recruit volunteers new to significant involvement with voluntary organisations; and what monitoring procedures are in place to assess whether recruits represent an additional resource for the voluntary sector. [101866]
§ Beverley HughesThe establishment of The Experience Corps was informed by an Experts Group drawn together to advise on a blue print for a National Experience Corps following agreement from the Ad Hoc ministerial group. In developing their plans the Experts Group were informed by Ministers that:
The scheme should not exclude existing volunteers in the target age group and must avoid double counting.
The Experience Corps monitor all information on existing volunteers through their database and state that they aim to 'increase, widen and sustain their volunteering contribution'. The performance of the Experience Corps is currently being reviewed by the Home Office.