5.4.2000

Edward Davey gives Borough’s volunteers a vote of thanks in Commons debate

In a special adjournment debate called by Kingston & Surbiton’s MP on Wednesday, Edward Davey formally thanked all the Borough’s volunteers for their hard work in the community. Mr Davey held the debate to highlight the good work local voluntary groups were doing in an attempt to try and protect them from further funding attacks from the Tory run administration. During his speech, Edward also introduced the prospect of establishing a pioneering new volunteering time bank within the Borough.

During an interview after the debate, Edward Davey said,

"Kingston is blessed by a large range of voluntary organisations which play a key role in many residents’ lives. Since I was elected, the visits I have made to many local voluntary organisations have shown me the depth of that involvement."

"Everyone that gives of their time freely for the benefit of others should be thanked and this was the perfect opportunity to do this."

Commenting on the funding difficulties local organisations face, Edward said,

"I just hope that highlighting the difficulties many local organisations face in trying to find sufficient funding will make the Government think again when deciding where lottery grants should go. Local residents spend on average over £16millon more each year that other constituencies in the country but we only get a fraction of that back for our local organisations."

"To add insult to injury, the funding for voluntary organisations is often seen as an easy target by the local Tory administration and I hope that my speech will make Conservatives think twice when they consider cutting budgets of the voluntary sector in future years."

He added,

"I also raised the idea of ‘time banks’ as a new, community-based way of encouraging people to help each other. Time banks are a pioneering new concept and I would like our Borough to be in on their formation right from the very beginning. By raising this directly with the Minister, I have put a maker down to let him know Kingston is interested."