Civil Service in the news
Volunteer and get your pension paid
The Government has just announced that if you volunteer overseas you'll continue to have your pension paid while you're away.
In a significant boost to civil servants who choose to share their skills and offer their time to help poor and disadvantaged people in developing countries, the government will fill the pension gap that would have otherwise appeared.
Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, said:
‘Volunteering brings vital skills and energy to our efforts to tackle poverty in the developing world. And now the Government is providing more support and encouragement for those who have skills to share.’
The Government has created a new fund of £13 million which is expected to cover pension contributions for approximately double the present number of volunteers. The fund will be available if you volunteer for between seven and 24 months and will cover your pension for your absence based on the departing salary and is paid once you return to the UK and continue public service employment.
The pension contribution is open to any member of the public sector pension scheme, including NHS workers, teachers, civil servants, the armed services, fire fighters, local government services, the judiciary and parliamentarians.
For more information, call 0845 300 4100 or visit www.dfid.gov.uk [External website]
