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Young Brits stay at home

VSO, which was founded 40 years ago, sends hundreds of people every year to work in the developing world. The volunteers usually stay for two years, and receive travel expenses, accommodation and a modest allowance.

But this year VSO is sending 200 fewer volunteers abroad than last year - a drop of 10%.

The agency said that the drop is very damaging for the communities that may have been depending on extra help.

The VSO Director David Green said: "This means that families won't have access to water, children won't be taught English, and vital building and community development will remain untouched."

The broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, who is chairman of VSO this year, said British people are no longer prepared to give as much time to volunteering.

"On the one had you've got 'Cool Britannia'. People love living here with all sorts of opportunities. On the other hand we're 'Caring Compassionate Britain'. The two seem to be in conflict, at least so far as encouraging people to go overseas to work," he said.

But VSO's sister organisation, The Community Service Volunteers (CSV), reported that it was recruiting more volunteers than ever before.

Last year, 150,000 people volunteered for work organised by CSV.

The charity also deliberately avoids using the word "voluntary" when appealing to young people.

"It's not cool. Young people enjoy making a difference. But they don't call in volunteering," said CSV Executive Director, Elisabeth Hoodless.

One of the differences between the two organisations is that people working for CSV can give as little as an hour a week of their time.

The work is also based in the UK so people do not have to travel.

Although it is now easier than ever to travel abroad, Mr Dimbleby thinks that the drop in VSO recruits contributes to young people's lack of interest in the world around them.

"If young people don't learn about the world away from Britain, it's very difficult to become interested in it," he said.

The report concludes that there is a need to raise the profile of VSO and development work overseas.

They are also hoping to attract more recruits by making some of the conditions more flexible. They already have plans to introduce shorter placements in fields like teaching, medicine and engineering.

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