Agenda item

Volunteering

It was moved by Councillor Geoff Smith, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley, that this Council:-

(a)       notes that 5th December is International Volunteer Day and places on record its gratitude for the tremendous contribution volunteers and voluntary sector groups make to the city and welcomes the opportunity through National Volunteer Day to recognise their efforts;

(b)       welcomes that there are many opportunities to volunteer in the city, and welcomes the work of groups such as the Sheffield Volunteer Centre, Volunteers Supporting Families, Sheffield Help Yourself and the National Volunteering Database  for the work they do to promote volunteering in the city;

(c)        notes that there are a number of volunteering opportunities with Council projects in local parks, libraries, schools, sporting events and projects and Criminal Justice Panels and places on record its thanks to all volunteers who support this work; and

(d)       thanks everyone involved in voluntary work for their efforts and resolves to continue to work closely in partnership with the voluntary sector.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Brian Webster, seconded by Councillor Jillian Creasy, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the addition of new paragraphs (d) to (f) as follows:

(d)       however believes that local people should not be presented with the impossible choice of either working for free at jobs that were previously undertaken by highly skilled and professional paid employees, or else see local services lost altogether;

(e)       believes that the Council owes it to volunteers and the communities they serve to provide them with adequate support, including training and development opportunities;

(f)        therefore calls upon the Administration to, at a minimum, explore options to ensure that where volunteers are undertaking roles in Co-Delivered and Associate library branches they are supported by on-site, paid librarians; and

2.         The re-lettering of the original paragraph (d) as a new paragraph (g).

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived. 

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-