To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) any engagement or correspondence with councils relating to their work with local volunteer centres; and (ii) any matters raised.

My department provides funding to Volunteer Now and six independent Volunteer Centres under its longstanding Volunteering Infrastructure Support Programme to provide advice and support to organisations involved in supporting Volunteering, including Councils.

In December 2020 a distinct Volunteering Fund was distributed to Councils as part of the Department’s Access to Food COVID Emergency Response.

Council representatives were involved in design workshops in December and also in individual meetings to outline the nature of the support available through the Fund. The Memorandum of Understanding for this funding specifies that Volunteer Centres and Volunteer Now should connect into local responses where possible. It also highlights the range of support that these organisations can offer to Councils in relation to Volunteering.