Kenny Frederick’s piece about volunteering (TES, June 8) makes some excellent points about its value - both to the volunteers themselves and to the wider community. There are benefits to be gained in terms of work experience, personal development and a sense of community for anyone who chooses to get involved in a voluntary project.
Mencap’s Volunteering for All aims to give people with a learning disability a broader range of volunteering options, from working with the National Trust to giving their time to support people with mobility issues.
It is important to continue to ensure that volunteering remains inclusive by giving people with a learning disability the support they need to take part in volunteering schemes that could give them a foot in the door to employment and change the attitudes of potential employers.
Dame Jo Williams Chief executive, Mencap, London
