Shelter statement on Workfare

Some Shelter shops, which rely on volunteers, provided a few placements for volunteers under Workfare.  In 2011 we reviewed our involvement and decided not to participate in the scheme.

The link between valuable volunteering opportunities and the receipt of benefits under the programme was complex, and led to cases where people's understanding of what they had signed up to was different from the reality. We therefore decided it was in everyone’s best interests for us not to participate further.

Volunteers are still very important to Shelter, and we will continue to explore new ways of involving them in our vital work in tackling bad housing and homelessness.

Initial date of publication: 17 February, 2012. Updated: 2016