CSR360

Posted: Wednesday 22 July 09, 9.03am GMT

The Prime Minister announced today the Government’s support for this new, innovative scheme, which shares the talent between the private, public and third sector. The National Talent Bank is part of the Government’s comprehensive approach to tackling the recession and will help get more people volunteering during the recession.

According to the CBI Employment Trends Survey: June 2009, 17% of UK employers have implemented short time working programmes in the last nine months. A further 13% of employers are intending to or considering implementing this practice in the future.

The development of this initiative also supports the call for innovative action to help communities most at risk of fracture due to the recession as addressed in the ‘Building Stronger Communities: Innovation for business and the third sector, partnering in tough times’ report, also launched today.

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, said:

The Government will do all it can to support this very British tradition of volunteering, and National Talent Bank will make it easier for people with valuable skills to volunteer and put their abilities to good use. Volunteers themselves benefit, as do the people they help and the country as a whole. So I welcome the National Talent Bank and wish it every success.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with TimeBank and the Council on Social Action to develop this important initiative, said Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community. “The National Talent Bank can help make it easier to harness the increased time some employees have in which to volunteer with the increased need that exists within communities for skilled and practical help.”

Helen Walker, Chief Executive, TimeBank said:

“The National Talent Bank will introduce volunteering to a whole new set of people as a result of working reduced hours. We think that volunteering could be part of the answer to help solve the issues that employers, employees and local communities find themselves in as a result of the recession. We know that volunteering is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling experience and communities are in need of people’s time and skills more than ever.”

David Robinson, Vice-Chair, Council on Social Action, said:

“We have a unique opportunity with growing need in our communities and up to a quarther of the workforce with more time to share. Employers have people with valuable skills and talents that can make a crucial difference to community projects.”