Analysis: Policy - Russell Commission - Volunteer budget backs up vision

In his Budget speech to the House of Commons last week, Chancellor Gordon Brown outlined the Russell Commission's proposed framework for youth volunteering as a way of matching young people's "idealism and their willingness to serve" with "the needs of communities across our country and internationally".

He backed up his support for the commission's aspiration of recruiting one million volunteers by pledging up to 100m for the cause.

The availability of this money, however, depends heavily on the willingness of the private sector to invest in youth volunteering. The Government will provide 45m over three years, in annual instalments of 3m, 15m and 27m, to build the framework's enabling infrastructure, but the 55m that is needed to create volunteering opportunities must be found within the private sector.