Treating volunteering as a test for migrants who want to settle in the UK “undermines its voluntary value”, volunteering organisations have warned.
In a speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool yesterday, Shabana Mahmoud, the Home Secretary, set out a series of new conditions migrants might have to meet to qualify for indefinite leave to remain.
“I will be proposing a series of new tests, such as: being in work; making National Insurance contributions; not taking a penny in benefits; learning English to a high standard; having no criminal record; and finally, that you have truly given back to your community, such as by volunteering your time to a local cause,” Mahmoud said.
The Home Secretary said some people might be able to earn an earlier settlement than 10 years based on their “contribution”, while others would be forced to wait longer if they were not contributing enough.
But Janet Thorne, chief executive of Reach Volunteering, said treating volunteering as a test for settlement “undermines its voluntary value”.
She said the move “could strip it of its meaning and its expression of values like compassion and inclusion that make it so impactful”.
Thorne said: “Volunteering is a powerful expression of generosity, connection and belonging and we believe it should always be an act of free choice.
“Migrants already contribute to our communities in multiple ways: through work, family, culture and, often, through volunteering itself.
“In fact, many migrants are already volunteering through Reach.”
Volunteering was about “compassion and connection, not compliance” and making it a part of a test for settled status “robs it of its meaning”, she said.
Saskia Konynenburg, director of voice and impact at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “Volunteering always has and always should be just that. Voluntary.
“We encourage anyone to support their community, grow skills and give back through volunteering. But, we should never mandate it.”