Charities 'will welcome migrant volunteers'
Charities
7th August 2009
Government plans to fast-track citizenship applications from migrant workers if they carry out volunteer work will benefit British charities, it has been suggested.
Speaking to Third Sector Online, UK Border Agency deputy chief executive for policy and strategy Jonathan Sedgwick stated that the proposals create a "win-win situation", as organisations will "welcome more volunteers".
He added that foreign nationals will become better integrated into communities by helping out at museums, schools and with environmental initiatives.
According to the official, a monitoring and verification system will be set up, as the government does not want to limit the scheme to larger third sector groups, while no migrants will be forced to participate.
"We believe in a healthy, vibrant voluntary sector and this is another example of that," he remarked.
However, some agencies have expressed concern about how the planned system will work and how it will be funded.
Meanwhile, a survey of organisations by fund manager Cordea Savills and investment manager Rensburg Sheppards recently discovered a sharp drop in charity investment income since the start of the recession.
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