Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

The Community Transport Association (CTA) is delighted that in his Budget today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has responded to calls from the CTA and Volunteering England, by extending the HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAP) rate for passenger payments currently in place for business employees, at 5 pence per passenger per mile, to volunteers.  Therefore, with the 5p increase to the AMAP to 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles, this will mean that volunteers can now be reimbursed up to 50p per mile tax free, when carrying passengers.  Keith Halstead, Chief Executive of the Community Transport Association UK said “The CTA is extremely pleased that the Chancellor has responded to our request to remove this barrier to volunteering.  Thousands of volunteer drivers across the UK, and, more importantly, the communities that they serve through their social car schemes, will be delighted to hear this news”.Further information is available from the CTA Call Keith Halstead on 07917586147 / 0161 351 1475

In 2008, Contact a Family carried out a survey into the financial situation of families with disabled children which revealed some shocking results. This year, the organisation has issued a similar survey to examine whether and to what extent circumstances have changed for these families. For more information go to the cafamily website.