Pension cover for VSO participants

by Gill Montia

Story link: Pension cover for VSO participants

The Government has agreed to pay the pension contributions of public sector workers who opt to take a career break by working as a volunteer abroad.

A £13 million project is being set up to help increase public sector involvement in such work.

The scheme is open to any member of a UK public sector pension and will enable 350 people to volunteer on projects in developing countries each year, without jeopardising their pensions.

The head of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Mark Goldring, has welcomed the move, saying: “It recognises the critical contribution that public sector professionals can make to the fight against poverty through sharing their professional skills.”

He points out that: “It also acknowledges the huge benefits they then bring back to public service in the UK when they return with refined skills and a strong sense of personal and professional growth.”

The fund is a joint initiative between the departments of Health, International Development, and Children, Schools and Family.

It will run from 2008 to 2011 and provide pensions contributions for periods of of absence of between seven and 24 months.

VSO, which has recently celebrated its 50th birthday, currently has around 1,500 skilled professionals working in projects across 34 countries.