Volunteering Boost For Teachers And Health Workers, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 17 Mar 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Public sector workers, including doctors, nurses, police, and teachers, stand to benefit from £13 million in new pension contributions when they volunteer in the poorest countries in the world, the Government announced .

Public servants who choose to share their skills and give their time to help some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in developing countries, currently miss out on pension contributions when they volunteer. A new commitment from the Government will fund these gaps in their public service, encouraging more public sector workers to volunteer.

The announcement forms part of the Government's response to Lord Crisp's report Global Health Partnerships, that made a number of recommendations last year to boost links between the UK and developing countries.

Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, speaking today at VSO's 50th anniversary celebrations, said:

"Volunteering brings vital skills and energy to our efforts to tackle poverty in the developing world. And now the Government is providing more support and encouragement for those who have skills to share.

"Volunteering plays a valuable role in our society, not just in helping to reduce global poverty, but in the wealth of experience volunteers will bring back to the UK and into public service. That VSO is celebrating its 50th anniversary is a testament to the strength and importance of volunteering in our society."

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:

"I congratulate VSO on 50 rewarding years of taking practical professional help to some of the most difficult environments in the world.  Teachers who volunteer bring back vital skills which feed back into UK education. The testimony of teachers themselves suggests they have learned creative new approaches, particularly to working with pupils from diverse and challenging backgrounds. They get management and leadership opportunities overseas that allow them to re-enter UK education with renewed focus or at a higher level.

"Ensuring that pension contributions are paid, at no cost to the school, local authority or individual teacher, will encourage more sabbaticals and career development breaks. This is in line with our recent support for international placements in Africa for UK school leaders, in partnership with the National Association of Head Teachers and VSO.

"My Department has made a substantial contribution to the new £13 million pensions fund, which is also supported by the Departments of Health and International Development, and we hope to encourage more public servants into overseas volunteering."

Dawn Primarolo, Public Health Minister said:

"Our health service workers who volunteer can really make a difference in developing countries. And there are huge gains for the UK health service. Staff who volunteer get unique opportunities to develop their skills - new skills which they can put to use in the NHS when they come home."

The new fund of £13 million, supported by Department of Health, Department for International Development and Department for Children Schools and Families, will be used to encourage public servants who wish to volunteer overseas. It is expected to cover pension contributions for approximately double the present number of volunteers. The fund will be available to volunteers leaving the UK between April 2008 and March 2011 for periods of volunteering of between 7 - 24 months. They will receive pension benefits, covering the absence based on their departing salary, when they return to the UK and continue in public service employment.

No cost will fall to the employer or individual and the scheme is open to any member of a UK public sector pension scheme, including NHS workers, teachers, civil servants, the armed services, fire fighters, local government services, the judiciary and parliamentarians.

Notes

1. Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, is speaking at the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday 15 March, at VSO's 50th anniversary celebrations.

2. The new scheme that will meet pension contributions for volunteers will be funded by the Department for International Development, Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of health, with further support from the Cabinet Office.

3. DFID has a long and close association with VSO, both through the provision of strategic funding and at an operational level worldwide. VSO is the largest UK based international volunteer sending agency. VSO volunteers are no longer school-leavers - today the average age of a volunteer is 38 - the majority coming from skilled, professional backgrounds. Most placements are for two years, but can also be as short as 2 weeks with volunteers being provided with accommodation and a local level allowance as well as air fares and insurance. There are almost 1,500 skilled professionals currently working in 34 countries.

4. Lord Crisp was commissioned by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to make recommendations to improve the links between health services and professionals in the UK and developing countries. Lord Crisp's report was published in x last year, with 14 recommendations. Copies of the report can be found at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/ghp.pdf and the Government's response can be found at http://www.dfid.gov.uk

5. Lord Crisp commented on the Government's response by saying: "I am delighted that my report, Global Health Partnerships, has widened the debate and led to new government commitments on global health.  The new pensions fund for volunteers will help ensure that all the energy, goodwill and expertise from UK health workers will have more impact, by enabling stronger links between individuals and communities in hospitals, primary care, universities and governments, for example. UK health professionals also have much learn from their colleagues in developing countries."

6. Support for this initiative is part of the Government's backing to increase opportunities for volunteering, and follows on from a new scheme, Platform2, announced last month to offer young adults from less advantaged backgrounds the opportunity to live, work and learn about life in a developing country and raise awareness of global issues in the UK. Find out more at http://www.dfid.gov.uk

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