I am grateful for the comments made in last week's Opinion column and the opportunity presented to ask the question 'what value the volunteer'?

To begin, we might first map the number of volunteer organisations working locally, then what they do and how many hours of volunteer time are freely given to deliver the outcomes.

At what hourly rate might we value that contribution, at minimum wage or at the real cost to hire someone to do the work?

If we are going to determine the value of the volunteer and the impact of work done by local voluntary organisations it would be unwise to be sidetracked to make comparison with that of the arts or the theatre or even the value to the town centre of transformed shop fronts, those things are also worthwhile, but how can you support the idea of robbing Peter to pay Paul by using money from Malvern Hills District Council's community grant scheme that has contributed annually to the delivery of several worthwhile charities.

Bear in mind that grants provided by such schemes help pay the essential expenses to enable the voluntary work to be done. Because the work is performed by volunteers, the value of the grant money is leveraged many times, consequently £20,000 of community grant scheme may help deliver several hundred thousand pounds of benefit locally.

I hope I can help to convince you of the value of the grants given, which should not be dismissed by an argument based upon a simplistic rating of priorities.

Mike Vials, CEO Noah's Ark Trust (1998) Ltd, College Precincts, Worcester.