Julian Baggini (Opinion, 28 February) is quite right in pointing out that people who do good works can be doing this as a front to disguise other antisocial activities. We must do everything we can to avoid the tolerance that stopped those in authority from responding to complaints about the activities of abusive celebrities like Jimmy Savile. That is a given. But we must not allow this situation to misguide us into a state of scepticism and suspicion of anyone who volunteers to contribute to their communities by offering support to people in need. The current government has failed vulnerable people already. We desperately need our volunteers, but we must protect them as well as those who use their services. Most volunteers are not looking for a halo but are genuinely seeking to invest in their communities. They too may benefit from such services at some point in their lives and they should be protected as well as assessed for their suitability for the tasks they seek to fulfil. In the current political climate, we are in danger of regulating and underfunding the third force out of existence. We would all be the poorer for that.
Connie Johnson
Edinburgh
