Abstract:

Volunteers are an increasingly policy relevant source of organized support at home for elderly people and their carers in Great Britain. Policy is landing voluntary organizations towards greater direction, regulation and competition in the provision of services. The potential detrimental impact of greater regulation in the provision of voluntary organization services on volunteers' contribution as providers of community care for elderly people & their supporters in Great Britain is evaluated, offering a case study of a voluntary sector home care relief scheme called In Safe Hands. Data obtained via analysis of official records, participant observation, interviews with a sample of users (N not provided), & questionnaires from 71 approved helpers document the acceptability of care to recipients, motivations & rewards of volunteers, & tensions for the voluntary organization in care delivery. It is concluded that a "contract culture" or purchase of service contracting will probably erode volunteer contributions.