Farron calls on PM to provide legal protection for volunteers to underpin the 'Big Society'

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to improve the legal safeguards protecting volunteers to make sure that the 'Big Society' policy works fairly.

Tim has been campaigning over the last couple of years to improve the rights of volunteers after the case of a distinguished volunteer member of HM Coastguard, George Crossman from Arnside, who was removed from his post without warning after many years of loyal service. This case led to Tim lobbying the previous government to provide a route for volunteers to seek redress or pursue grievances in the event that they are mistreated. Tim has become a leading advocate of volunteers' rights in the South Lakes.

With the advent of the 'Big Society', Tim is calling for legal guarantees to be put in place to make sure that what happened to George Crossman never happens again

In Tim's letter to the Prime Minister he says: "Before much greater use and opportunity for volunteers are established, the law must be amended to give employment rights of fair treatment to all volunteers. I do hope that you will agree to this vital safeguard for the thousands of current and future employees because all recent legislation has heaped health and safety requirements upon such individuals without protecting their entitlement to fair employment."