Recent UK Government legislation aimed at removing barriers to work for disabled benefit claimants marks a significant and welcome shift in approach. For many people, the benefits system has long created a difficult tension between maintaining financial security and exploring opportunities to contribute, build skills or move towards paid employment.
This change signals a move towards a more enabling system. One that recognises people should be able to test their capacity, gain experience and play an active role in their communities without fear of losing the support they rely on.
For organisations working at the heart of communities, including Borders Community Action, the potential impact of this change is clear.
For disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, the idea of volunteering or taking on new responsibilities has often felt risky. Concerns about how activity might affect benefit entitlement have acted as a powerful deterrent, even where individuals wanted to contribute or explore their abilities.
The new legislation aims to remove these barriers by giving people greater confidence to take part in work-related activity, including volunteering, without immediate financial penalty.
This creates space for people to:
Further information about the legislation is available on the UK Government website.
Volunteering plays a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing. It offers structure, purpose and social connection, all of which can have a positive impact on mental and physical health.
At Borders Community Action, the benefits of volunteering are seen every day. For some people, volunteering is an end in itself. It provides routine, a sense of belonging and the opportunity to give back to the community. For others, it can act as a stepping stone towards employability, helping people rebuild confidence after illness, disability or time away from work.
Volunteering can help individuals to:
Importantly, volunteering can be shaped around an individual’s needs, energy levels and circumstances, making it a flexible and inclusive option.
Across the Scottish Borders, there is no shortage of volunteering opportunities. From community transport and befriending services to office support, environmental projects and local initiatives, there are many ways for people to get involved.
What has often been missing is not opportunity, but confidence. For many disabled people and benefit claimants, the perceived risk to financial stability has been a major barrier to taking the first step.
This legislation has the potential to remove that fear. By making it clear that people can engage, contribute and explore their abilities without immediate negative consequences, more individuals may feel able to say yes to opportunities that support their wellbeing and personal development.
When barriers are removed, everyone benefits. Individuals gain confidence, skills and connection. Organisations benefit from diverse lived experience, commitment and local knowledge. Communities become stronger, more inclusive and more resilient.
For Borders Community Action and partner organisations, this shift creates an opportunity to welcome more people into volunteering roles and to provide supportive pathways that reflect individual goals, whether that is improved wellbeing, social connection or a move towards employment.
This legislation represents an important step towards a more compassionate and realistic understanding of disability, health and work. It acknowledges that people’s capacity can change over time and that progress is rarely linear.
By supporting volunteering as a valid and valuable activity, the system can help people build confidence on their own terms. For many, that first step into a volunteering role could be the start of renewed purpose, connection and opportunity.
Borders Community Action will continue to support inclusive volunteering opportunities across the Borders, helping people to take part, feel valued and contribute in ways that work for them.
