THE INQUIRY

The Inquiry has been chaired by Baroness Morgan of Huyton with a panel including Andy Reed MP (Labour), Jo Swinson MP (Liberal Democrat), James Brokenshire MP (Conservative), Tom Wylie, former chief executive of the National Youth Agency (NYA) and Naomi Wilkinson, a Scout and Young Leader. Whilst The Scout Association (TSA) has supported the Inquiry, it has been completely independent.

The issue of young adult volunteering affects many organisations, and to reflect this, the inquiry has heard evidence from witnesses drawn from a broad range of organisations.

Key objective

To produce a report which looks at the real reasons for more young people to volunteer, the barriers that prevent young people from doing so - and to produce a series of practical recommendations for change.

Themes include:

• The benefits volunteering brings to young adults - for themselves, to business, to wider education, to those they support and to communities and society as a whole
• The issues that prevent more young people from volunteering - information, support, flexibility, employment, accessibility etc
• The role employers, in both the public and private sector, can play in supporting voluntary schemes for young adults across the UK
• The regulatory barriers to volunteering e.g. compensation culture
• The information available to young adults interested in volunteering

Structure and timescale of inquiry

The inquiry started in early 2008 and after six months concluded in June 2008. It incorporated two formal evidence sessions, followed by four regional sessions in an area local to each parliamentarian. The inquiry has culminated in the launch of the report.

Administration

The Inquiry has been supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Scouting Group (APPSG) and The Scout Association. Luther Pendragon provided the secretariat and associated administrative support.