Lucy Rigby the MP for Northampton North visited VIN last week to celebrate National Volunteers Week.

Volunteers from VINs Elderly Befriending Project (Happy at Home) and our Car Scheme were in attendance to explain the importance of volunteering and what works well for them.

Lucy was particularly interested in the barriers to increased volunteering, especially amongst young people.

An interesting debate ensued, with contributions form Russell Rolph the CEO of VIN and Rachel Bott, the Centre Director of the Doddridge Centre.

Russell states:

It was great to see Lucy last week. She seemed genuinely interested in the barriers to volunteering and has asked me to provide a position paper on the ways in which volunteering could be increased, particularly around Northampton and its surrounds and especially amongst Young People. I have promised to do this, with a particular emphasis on funding, why the ethos of Volunteering is Free has so much momentum and the message’s that both central and local government should be imparting. I would like to thank all the VIN volunteers that took the time to speak freely and honestly about their experiences. It is appreciated. I would also like to thank Rachel from the Doddridge Centre for contributing, and to Roz (my Happy at Home Co-ordinator) for providing the biscuits and strawberries.