The voluntary sector is missing out on free professional advice and support, according to a Home Office funded report.

The study, "Free for all", found that few voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) were aware of the existence of free help covering areas such as accountancy and legal advice, as well as more modern areas like design and information technology.

"Access to these services is varied, and many potential beneficiaries have been unaware of what is available and how to take advantage of it," said Business in the Community service ProHelp's report.

Professionals, the report's authors believe, also need to be encouraged to learn from their peers on how they could provide free services to people working in their communities and the government "needs to give a clear lead" to ensure the voluntary sector gets the most out of the opportunities available.

The Home Office's Active Community Unit is urged to survey other government departments to assess policies on volunteering by staff.

The report also found there was an absence of reliable statistics on the amount of free professional services (FPSs) provided to VCOs and no agreed definition of what costs should be included. However, the report said "It is probably the case that millions of pounds worth of FPSs are provided each year to VCOs by a wide range of individuals and professional firms."

But the research found significant variations in access to FPSs, with minority communities more likely to lose out.

"Access to FPSs seems to depend a lot on location, luck and personal contacts. London and other UK cities have reasonable access to FPSs, while black and minority ethnic organisations and rural community organisations have less access."

The report also calls on the corporate and public sectors to get more involved in providing FPSs, at both local and national levels.

"There is a pressing need for more coherence and better information for all parties involved," says the report. It adds that better use should be made of the internet to coordinate opportunities.

Julia Cleverdon, chief executive of Business in the Community, said ProHelp had helped to broker professional advice and expertise worth £15 million over 11 years.

"The success of ProHelp...has clearly demonstrated that not only can they give enormously significant support to the voluntary sector but, at the same time, professional firms gain great benefit in the development of their staff through this involvement. I hope the report will help to encourage many more firms to get involved," Cleverdon said.

The government says it will consider the report's recommendations. Home Office minister Angela Eagle said the report "underlines the government's commitment to active communities"

"There is a pressing need for more coherence and better information for all parties involved in provision of free professional support and this report represents a first step in examining this issue," she added.

The government has awarded £78,500 to Business in the Community and Business Community Connections to jointly work on a detailed examination of the merits of pulling together all the various strands of provision of free professional support, including the development of a website.