# Volunteering England campaigns against DWP's policy on volunteer lunches

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/06/17/volunteering-england-campaigns-against-dwp039s-policy-volunteer-lunches/
- Published: 2006-06-17T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The DWP’s new Guide to Volunteering while on Benefits says that reimbursement for
lunch and other meals counts as earnings, not legitimate expenses. This is unjust(
rich people can get reimbursed, someone on income support can’t), could have a serious
impact on volunteering especially by young and/or unemployed people, and contradicts
other DWP policy statements.

 

 

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Volunteering England and other organisations are campaigning against this change
in DWP policy and practice. If the change will affect your volunteers–or even if
you won’t, but you are concerned–please adapt the attached letter as appropriate
and send it to DWP, Ed Miliband (Minister for the Third Sector) and your MP. Addresses
are in the attachment. The letter was written by Kate Bowgett of Off the Streets
and into Work (OSW). The letter and explanatory notes are also at www.sandy-a.co.
uk/volslunch.htm.

 

 

The legal update website item is at www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#volslunch.

 

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