MXX v A Secondary School [2023] EWCA Civ 996 – 3PB

‘In the ever-increasing cases concerning grooming/abuse, the Court of Appeal’s decision provides helpful guidance in the context of work experience employment and vicarious liability.’

Full Story

3PB, 5th September 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

When volunteers and interns may acquire employment rights – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 9th, 2023 in employment, news, volunteers by tracey

‘There is no legal definition of a “volunteer” or “intern” and no specific legislation covering employer-volunteer relationships.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th January 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

LiP support goes hybrid with 700 law student volunteers – Legal Futures

Posted October 17th, 2022 in charities, litigants in person, news, universities, volunteers by sally

‘The charity that supports litigants in person (LiPs) is launching an expanded university-focused service this autumn, offering a mixture of in-person and online advice.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 17th October 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Volunteer police officers to be armed with Taser stun guns – BBC News

Posted May 17th, 2022 in news, police, volunteers, weapons by tracey

‘Volunteer police officers in England and Wales will be authorised to use Tasers, the home secretary is to announce.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

When volunteers and interns may acquire employment rights – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 28th, 2021 in contract of employment, employment, equality, news, remuneration, volunteers by tracey

‘There is no legal definition of a “volunteer” or “intern” and no specific legislation covering employer-volunteer relationships. The extent of the rights that volunteers or interns may acquire is dependent on their legal status, meaning whether they are an “employee” or a “worker” or a genuine volunteer.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 25th June 2021

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Law Society victimisation claim struck out over volunteer status – Legal Futures

Posted March 25th, 2021 in news, solicitors, striking out, victimisation, volunteers by sally

‘A solicitor has had her claim for victimisation by the Law Society struck out by an employment tribunal on the basis that, as the chair of a committee, she was not an employee or office-holder.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th March 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid-19: Offering blood, toil, tears and sweat: Emergency Volunteers and the Law – Cloisters

‘Over 750,000 volunteers have signed up to the government’s scheme to assist the NHS and social services during the coronavirus outbreak. For those coming from another job, what employment protection do these volunteers have? The Minister introduced this aspect of the emergency legislation, the Coronavirus Act 2020, by saying “The Bill protects the income and the employment status of those who volunteer in the health and social care system. Volunteers will play a critical role in relieving the pressure on frontline clinicians and social care staff”. Sections 8, Schedule 7 and section 9 provide for ‘emergency volunteer leave’ (EVL). In this blog, the seventh in a Covid-19 series, Declan O’Dempsey and Tom Gillie answer the following pressing questions: What is EVL? Who may take it, and what should employers do if staff request to do so? The provisions of the Act are not in force at the time of writing. The situation is however a very fast moving one.’

Full Story

Cloisters, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Police launch urgent review of child cadet programmes ‘being abused by officers for sexual purposes’ – The Independent

Posted December 4th, 2018 in child abuse, news, police, vetting, volunteers, young persons by tracey

‘Police forces are launching an urgent review of volunteer cadet programmes amid fears they are being used by paedophiles to gain access to children. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating several police officers who worked with cadet groups – which are for young people aged between 13 and 18 – in London and Manchester, and called for safeguarding checks across England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th December 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Architect who offered free advice about couple’s garden wins case after they tried to sue her for £265,000 – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 28th, 2018 in duty of care, news, volunteers by tracey

‘An architect who offered free help to her friends has won her case after they tried to sue her for £265,000 when the garden landscaping went wrong.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 27th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Attorney retrospective approval of gifts from donor accounts – Family Law

Posted July 23rd, 2018 in attorney general, carers, gifts, news, volunteers by tracey

‘What are the rules governing retrospective approval of gifts and payments for voluntary care? Simon Edwards, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, discusses Re HH (attorney’s application for retrospective approval) [2018] EWCOP 13 which demonstrates the necessity for someone who has power of attorney to retain proper records of care payments.’

Full Story

Family Law, 20th July 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Ex-offenders face bleak future after reforms fail, report says – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2018 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, reports, volunteers by tracey

‘Ex-offenders trying to turn their lives around face a bleak future, a probation inspector has warned, as ambitious government plans to boost the role of charities and volunteers in the probation service have failed to materialise.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Paedophile hunter’ evidence used to charge 150 suspects – BBC News

Posted April 10th, 2018 in evidence, news, private investigators, volunteers by tracey

‘Evidence from so-called paedophile hunter groups was used to charge suspects at least 150 times last year, a BBC investigation has found. A Freedom of Information request, sent to every police force in England and Wales, showed a seven-fold increase in the use of such evidence from 2015.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government sends warning letters to 550 companies amid crackdown on unpaid internships – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 9th, 2018 in employment, enforcement, news, remuneration, volunteers by tracey

‘A Government crackdown on unpaid internships was launched last night as warning letters were sent to 550 businesses threatening action unless they review their practices.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 8th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Former prostitutes to sue the Government as criminal records stop them volunteering with Brownie groups – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 16th, 2018 in children, criminal records, employment, news, prostitution, volunteers by sally

‘Former prostitutes are set to sue the Government over criminal records checks which stop them volunteering with Brownie groups.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 15th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Council loses appeal over voluntarily-worked overtime and holiday pay – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 3rd, 2017 in employment tribunals, holiday pay, news, volunteers, working time by tracey

‘Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council has lost a case at the Employment Appeal Tribunal over how voluntarily-worked overtime is treated in the calculation of holiday pay.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2017

Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Local government: cuts to library provision – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 16th, 2017 in budgets, children, documents, equality, libraries, local government, news, volunteers by sally

‘When local authorities plan to reduce, restructure or rationalise library services, litigation often results.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Unpaid internships reform plan blocked in Commons – BBC News

Posted November 7th, 2016 in bills, minimum wage, news, remuneration, volunteers by sally

‘Reforms aimed at banning unpaid internships have been blocked after Tory backbenchers and the government spoke against the proposals in the Commons.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Theresa May to give volunteers special powers to help fight crime – The Independent

Posted January 21st, 2016 in news, police, volunteers by sally

Civilian volunteers with specialist skills are going to be given “police-style powers” to create a more “flexible workforce”, the government has announced.

Full story

The Independent, 20th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police volunteers and staff powers consultation launched – Home Office

Posted September 10th, 2015 in consultations, police, press releases, volunteers by tracey

‘Home Secretary announces proposals for extra powers for police staff and volunteers.’

Full press release

Home Office, 9th September 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

No Duty of Care Owed to Extremely Reckless Friend Using Dangerous Machinery: Ford v Silverstone (2015) (QBD) – Zenith PI Blog

Posted February 6th, 2015 in accidents, duty of care, news, personal injuries, volunteers by sally

‘A Defendant did not owe a duty of care to a Claimant who, while helping him clear the grounds of the property, had of his own accord, attempted to unblock a wood chipper while the engine was on and lost three of his fingers.’

Full story

Zenith PI Blog, 5th February 2015

Source: www.zenith.wordpress.com