Day-off for workers or students to volunteer and do charity work under new plans

Workers and students could be given a day off to do charity or voluntary work under cross-party plans to be unveiled today.

Young adults in particular should be allowed to take an extra eight hours leave a year from work or academic commitments to help others, an inquiry headed by Labour peer Baroness Morgan of Huyton will recommend.

Her inquiry will also demand a 'cultural shift', led by the public sector, to support volunteering by those in employment. The Government should recognise such work as a legitimate job-seeking activity for those claiming benefits, it adds.

The findings, which coincide with the start of National Volunteering Week, are understood to be being considered favourably by ministers and will be warmly welcomed by the Conservatives.

Rather than calling for mandatory time off, the report will recommend an accredited 'opt-in scheme' for employers and institutions to give them greater flexibility in releasing individuals.

Reward: Volunteers would get up to eight hours a years to help others