The government has announced a £300 million plan to involve more volunteers involved in public service.

Over the next four years £60 million is to be used to develop mentoring and modernise infrastructure in voluntary and community organisations, with another £27 million to go to university student volunteering schemes to be spent over three years in England. A further £70 million will go to the Children's Fund and £50 million will be given to community groups in deprived areas.

Around £120 million will be spent on funding volunteering in public services and establishing a new National Experience Corp. The government says the aim of the "grey" or "Dads' Army" for the 21st Century is for over 50's to pass on skills and experience such as helping young families with parenting skills or with sport in schools. Cabinet office minister, Lord Falconer and Home Office minister, Paul Boateng are to head up the new Active Communities Unit.

Leading charities and volunteer groups claim that the chancellor, Gordon Brown, is also considering plans to give tax breaks to encourage volunteers, although the Daily Mail reports that that groups working with young people will have to pay £10 a time to check if volunteers have criminal records while the Guardian reports a warning from Unison that community volunteering could undercut paid jobs.