I'm the Executive Officer for a volunteer led charity that was established 10 years ago in response to almost overwhelming need for support amongst people with chronic, life-limiting illness in a very local area. Over the last 2.5 years monumental steps have been made to professionalise the charity and we're now spreading our services across the county with our core services. Our core services are a Home Sitting Service and Bereavement Services. We have a Board of Trustees that meet on a monthly basis. 

For our volunteers who are part of our Home Sitting Service we have always reimbursed expenses - travel to and from the client, taking them out for some shopping or jut to have a coffee and cake. A founder member and ex trustee has recently raised the issue that they used to cover expenses to a volunteer who helped in our retail shop and has recently come back following several years away. She does a 3 hour stint once a week and she used to claim travel expenses approx 16 miles and car parking fee. There is a daily bus service and she would qualify for this free of charge, I feel that this is different to our core service and that volunteers shouldn't expect to get expenses for a 3 hour stint in the shop. 

Our Volunteer Coordinator has explained that we no longer offer this as we're expanding across the county and that it is only offered to volunteers who assist with the Home Support Service. I feel that our retail income would be used to cover volunteer expenses rather than our core services. 

The volunteer was fine with this but the ex trustee has brought it up again - she also volunteers and says it should be offered to everyone. Who is right and what advice can you give?