Dearest Brian,

not sure which charity you work for and what benefit they provide. As you claim they do not need government help to run I expect they have healthy income selling something (eg clothes). Well it may be news to you but some charities concentrate on just providing a free service and although they rely on unpaid staff costs and some donations, there are other costs that they may incur such as: postage, telephone help lines, training, advertising to name a few. These charities were receiving grants to help running cost, are now finding it they will have to turn volunteers away because grants budgets have been slashed.

BTW. As a registered volunteer I even got an invite to volunteer in Forest Hill job centre. Is this Big Society you and PM refer to?

And police can send volunteers to police the event. I may even offer my help. That way it will cost them nothing.