History

v is the new kid on the block when it comes to volunteering.

It all started with the Russell Commissioned, established in 2004 by David Blunkett (Home Secretary) and Gordon Brown (Chancellor) at the time. Together they tasked Ian Russell, CEO of Scottish Power with taking a long, hard look at how young people were getting involved with volunteering and making a difference to their communities, and how things could change radically for the better...

The Russell Commission canvassed opinions from the voluntary and community sector, business, the media, but most importantly young people themselves.

After analysing many thousands of responses, the Commission’s main recommendation was the need for a new organisation to take a strategic lead on youth volunteering. Hence vInspired was established in May 2006. Its main tasks were to make dramatic headways into the quality, quantity and diversity of volunteering opportunities on offer to 16 to 25 year olds across England.

Having seen the need, the Government put its money where its mouth was and provided v with substantial funding. But hand-in-hand with the funding came some pretty monumental targets and responsibilities.