Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) encourage disabled people to consider volunteering opportunities and (b) promote awareness of volunteering opportunities for people in receipt of social security payments.

DWP recognises the value of voluntary activity both in developing skills which can be transferred into the world of paid work and in terms of benefits for local communities and the wider society. Claimants may be encouraged to consider voluntary work opportunities if it would help them move closer to work. Claimants need to manage combining voluntary activity with other work-related activities. This will give them the best chance of moving into sustainable work more quickly.

In addition, a range of tailored initiatives are supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to move into employment. These include the Work and Health Programme, Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, and support in partnership with the health system, including Employment Advisers in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services. In Jobcentre Plus, both Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers can discuss volunteering opportunities based on the needs of the individual and drawing on local knowledge.