In a surprise announcement The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)  has said that volunteers on benefits will no longer have to bear the cost of their lunchtime meal.

The statement comes after mounting pressure from Volunteering England's "Right to Reasonable Expenses" campaign launched in response to DWP guidance on expenses that went against most existing practice. The guidance had said that volunteers on welfare benefits could not claim expenses from organisations for their lunch, even though most volunteer-involving organisations are willing to pay it.

Justin Davis-Smith, deputy chief executive of Volunteering England, said: "This is great news as it lifts a barrier to the two million volunteers on benefits who were affected by the guidance. We're delighted that the DWP has listened to the views of so many in the volunteering movement and reverted to its original position which supports the Government's aim of opening up access to volunteering to disadvantaged groups."

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