Embargoed until 00:01 Saturday 15 March
VSO welcomes 50th anniversary pension boost for public sector workers volunteering in developing countries
International development charity VSO today (Saturday 15 March) welcomed the announcement by Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, of more support for public sector workers who want to volunteer overseas. The charity hailed the announcement of £13 million to fund pension contributions for public sector workers whilst they volunteer as a strong endorsement of international volunteering.
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. The new fund, unveiled at VSO’s 50th anniversary celebration at London’s Royal Festival Hall, will ensure public sector professionals’ pension contributions are maintained whilst they are volunteering overseas.
Mark Goldring, Chief Executive of VSO said:
“This move is a strong and welcome endorsement by the Government of international volunteering. It recognises the critical contribution that public sector professionals can make to the fight against poverty through sharing their professional skills. It also acknowledges the huge benefits they then bring back to public service in the UK when they return with refined skills and a strong sense of personal and professional growth.“
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development highlighted:
“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.”
VSO is the world's leading international development organisation working through skilled volunteers. Since 2000, VSO has seen a sharp increase in the number of requests for people with management and local government experience. Now a quarter of its placements require people with experience in areas such as project and financial management, staff and organisational development, strategic planning, or and marketing.
Local government workers have been placed in developing countries with local and central government, and NGOS that are in need of strong management structures and systems.
VSO volunteer Dave Sternberg decided to take a career break after many years at senior management level within local government. He spent two years volunteering at a high-profile women’s rights organisation based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Dave joined Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNLWA) as a management and strategy advisor, helping them re-organise from the small pressure group they once were, to the large, multi-branched organisation it had become.
“Whilst it was challenging fitting into a dynamic organisation fighting for women’s rights as a middle aged, middle-class white man, I learnt so much from the experience and was able to share my skills from local government with them. On my return I set up a thriving VSO Supporter Group, and regularly present at VSO information days to encourage others from local government to share their skills abroad”.
VSO is currently recruiting professionals with experience in management, monitoring and evaluation, financial reporting, IT and organisational development.
To find out more about volunteering with VSO and the pension scheme go to: www.vso.org.uk/publicpensions or call 020 8780 7500.
ENDS
For further information please contact George Ames on: 020 7403 2230 / 07816 857502 or email george@forster.co.uk
Notes to Editors
- VSO is the world's leading independent international development organisation working through skilled volunteers around the world.
- Please visit www.vso.org.uk
- All public service positions are eligible for the scheme. There are no minimum or maximum age restrictions. Volunteering positions must last between 6 and 24 months overseas.
