Hendry backs volunteers

Charles Hendry, MP for Wealden, has encouraged more people to give time to help local

voluntary organisations. Mr Hendry was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the

Wealden Federation of Voluntary Organisations in Uckfield.

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He praised the fantastic contribution the many voluntary organisations in Wealden make to

the local community: Every aspect of our lives is enriched by the voluntary sector. Our

schools would not cope without the PTAs and the unpaid classroom assistants; the health

service could not cope without the Leagues of Friends, the hospital car service and, of

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course, the whoie hospice movement. And our emergency services could not cope with

the Special Constables, the volunteer fire-fighters and the St John s Ambulance Brigade.

But we do need more people to come forward and support the work our local charities do.

It does not need to involve a great deal of time and everyone involved knows how

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rewarding such activity can be. If someone does not know how to contact a charity in a

specific sector, then I would invite them to contact my office at the House of Commons, so

we can put them in touch.

Mr Hendry also called upon the government to reduce the volume of red tape on charities:

So many organisations are sinking under the weight of government regulations and red

tape. If the government truly values the work our charities do, then it must cut back on the

bureaucracy and let them get on with their work.