NEW ‘CAN DO’ GUIDE TO MAKE ORGANISING COMMUNITY EVENTS EASIER

The ‘Can Do’ Events Guidance should assist volunteers and communities in Stockport and throughout the UK and will contain easy-to-understand information on planning, health and safety, access issues, budgeting, booking and licensing, insurance and use of public land. It will provide useful links to specialist information and advice for sporting and other specialist events, and a ‘myth-buster’ to overcome misconceptions around volunteering.

The commitment follows a Focus on Enforcement review, published today, which examined barriers that hinder the organisation and running of volunteer-led events, such as street parties, charity fundraisers or school fetes.

The review found a lack of clear advice and little consistency in the guidance provided by central and local government bodies. Current guidance often focused more on telling organisers what they cannot do, rather than what they can. Confusing information along with additional burdens sometimes imposed by non-regulatory third parties such as landlords acts as a deterrent to public participation.

It also found that the absence of clear, universal guidance leads to the perception that volunteer events are subject to greater legal and regulatory requirements than is actually the case. This presents a real deterrent to people who would like to organise events.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said:

“We want to encourage a ‘can do’ attitude to volunteering, and create a stronger, more responsible society. But the confusing guidance and unnecessary obstacles placed in the way of people who want to organise events to raise money for good causes, or simply bring the community together, are undermining this ambition.

“Creating a central point where anyone can access simple guidance on how to run events safely and legally will clear up this mess and help people get on with making a contribution to community life.”

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said:

“Organising successful community events is a lot easier to do than people think. The new “Can Do” guidance from the Office for Civil Society will make it clear when licences and other permissions are needed and where to go for specialist guidance. It will set out in plain English how to plan successful and safe events and break the myths that discourage running them.”

Operations Director of the Scout Association, Stephen Peck said:

“The government has responded to the clear need for better, more streamlined and properly signposted advice for volunteer organisers up and down the country. Everyone benefits if people organising community events to raise money for good causes know that the government wants to work with them, not put obstacles in their way.”

The Focus on Enforcement Volunteer Events review consulted individuals and organisations including national charities (or umbrella organisations representing federations), those involved in organising particular events, the insurance industry, local authorities, government departments and regulators.

The new guidance will be produced by the Office for Civil Society, Cabinet Office and will be published later this year. The full Volunteer Events Review findings are at: http://discuss.bis.gov.uk/focusonenforcement/review-findings/