Transcript What Infrastructure for Volunteering in Europe?

Scotland’s Volunteering Frameworks:
UK, Europe, the World
Vilnius, Lithuania
11th December 2008
Karl Monsen-Elvik
Volunteer Development Scotland &
European Volunteer Centre (CEV)
Themes: Local to Global
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Scotland: Our Volunteering
Culture in a Devolved State
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UK: Legal Frameworks to
Support Voluntary Action
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Europe: the European
Volunteer Centre
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International: United Nations
Principles for Volunteering.
Context for Volunteering in Scotland
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Research evidence-base
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Policy
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Economic value: 1.52 million
volunteers = £1.9 billion
Good practice development
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Baselines: 30% formal, 74%
informal volunteering
Investing in Volunteers standard
Accredited training programmes
Partnerships
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Scottish Government Strategy.
Scotland’s Volunteering Infrastructure
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Volunteer Development Scotland
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32 Independent Local Volunteer
Centres
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One for each local authority area
Funded by Government
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National Centre for Excellence
Volunteering strategies, initiatives
A Branded Network
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Logo, standards, reporting, database.
Scotland in a Time of Change
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New Scottish Government led by
Independents (SNP)
Everything linked to sustainable
economic development
Policy focus on “Localism”
Volunteering is seen as part of the
solution
Building civil society through
individual and joint action
People taking independent action
to make Scotland stronger.
UK Volunteering Development
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Long/strong volunteering tradition
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Well developed infrastructures
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National Development Centres
Local Volunteer Centres
UK Volunteering Forum
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Religious duty, humanitarianism
England, Scotland, Wales,
Northern Ireland
Responding to growing
“professionalisation” of sector
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Police checking, liability, finance.
Legal Frameworks
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Taxation
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Employment
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Volunteers exempt from
minimum wage legislation
Social security benefits
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Allowances for NGOs involved in
voluntary action
The right to volunteer without
affecting benefits
Child/Adult Protection
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Free Disclosures (police checks)
for volunteers.
Policy Frameworks
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England
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Northern Ireland
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Compact between Government &
the voluntary/community sector
Scotland
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Commission on the Future of
Volunteering
Enterprising Third Sector Action
Plan
Wales
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“Empowering Active Citizens to
Contribute to Wales”.
CEV (European Volunteer Centre)
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60+ members (and growing)
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Secretariat in Brussels
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From 24 countries
National/Regional – Full members
Local/other – Associate members
Information, newsletters, support
Board of Directors
Active in various policy areas
Leading/supporting projects
Excellent website (www.cev.be).
CEV (European Volunteer Centre)
Objectives:
 Be a representative and effective voice for volunteering
with the different institutions of the EU
 Inform members on developments in EU policies that
may have an impact on volunteering
 Act as a central forum for the exchange of information,
policy and practice on volunteering from the different
countries
 Support networking opportunities
 Organise conferences, seminars and other events
 Initiate research, joint European projects, etc.
Basic Principles of Volunteering
United Nations criteria:
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Must be a free will choice
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Without financial gain
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To the benefit of others
UN 4 categories/types:
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mutual aid or self-help
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philanthropy or service to others
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participation or civic engagement
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advocacy or campaigning.
The Role of Government (1)
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Highlight the contribution of volunteering for policy-makers and
the media;
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Disseminate the results of studies and surveys on the
contribution of volunteerism;
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Provide, in a way complementary to the support from other
sources, an adequate human and physical infrastructure for
volunteering;
Facilitate and otherwise encourage locally-based volunteering
development;
Provide or facilitate specialised training;
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Encourage public sector workers to volunteer;
Introduce enabling legislation and facilitate employee
volunteering in all sectors;
The Role of Government (2)
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Facilitate partnership-building around volunteer-based activities;
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Encourage and undertake research covering the various aspects
of volunteerism and its impact on society;
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Ensure citizen access to information on opportunities for
volunteering;
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Address the possible impact of general social and economic
policy measures upon citizens’ opportunities and willingness to
volunteer;
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Integrate volunteerism into national development planning; and
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Promote volunteering within educational establishments.
Volunteering: Challenges & Opportunities
Learning Lessons Together:
 There is no template
 Build on what exists
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Know what you want
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including what is already working
based on what is needed
Celebrate diversity
Protect NGO independence
Expect change
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anticipate and plan your future.