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

Scotland: Our Volunteering Culture in a Devolved State

UK: Legal Frameworks to Support Voluntary Action

Europe: the European Volunteer Centre

International: United Nations Principles for Volunteering.

Context for Volunteering in Scotland

Research evidence-base Baselines: 30% formal, 74%

informal volunteering

Policy Economic value: 1.52 million

volunteers = £1.9 billion

Good practice development Investing in Volunteers standard Accredited training programmes

Partnerships Scottish Government Strategy.

Scotland’s Volunteering Infrastructure

Volunteer Development Scotland National Centre for Excellence

32 Independent Local Volunteer Centres One for each local authority area

Funded by Government Volunteering strategies, initiatives

A Branded Network Logo, standards, reporting, database.

Scotland in a Time of Change

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

Long/strong volunteering tradition Religious duty, humanitarianism

Well developed infrastructures National Development Centres Local Volunteer Centres

UK Volunteering Forum England, Scotland, Wales,

Northern Ireland Responding to growing

“professionalisation” of sector Police checking, liability, finance.

Legal Frameworks

Taxation Allowances for NGOs involved in

voluntary action Employment

Volunteers exempt from minimum wage legislation

Social security benefits The right to volunteer without

affecting benefits Child/Adult Protection

Free Disclosures (police checks) for volunteers.

Policy Frameworks

England Commission on the Future of

Volunteering Northern Ireland

Compact between Government & the voluntary/community sector

Scotland Enterprising Third Sector Action

Plan Wales

“Empowering Active Citizens to Contribute to Wales”.

CEV (European Volunteer Centre)

60+ members (and growing) From 24 countries National/Regional – Full members Local/other – Associate members

Secretariat in Brussels 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: Must be a free will choice Without financial gain To the benefit of others

UN 4 categories/types: mutual aid or self-help philanthropy or service to others participation or civic engagement advocacy or campaigning.

The Role of Government (1) Highlight the contribution of volunteering for policy-makers and

the media; Disseminate the results of studies and surveys on the

contribution of volunteerism; 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; Encourage public sector workers to volunteer; Introduce enabling legislation and facilitate employee

volunteering in all sectors;

The Role of Government (2) Facilitate partnership-building around volunteer-based activities; Encourage and undertake research covering the various aspects

of volunteerism and its impact on society; Ensure citizen access to information on opportunities for

volunteering; Address the possible impact of general social and economic

policy measures upon citizens’ opportunities and willingness to volunteer;

Integrate volunteerism into national development planning; and Promote volunteering within educational establishments.

Volunteering: Challenges & Opportunities

Learning Lessons Together: There is no template Build on what exists

including what is already working Know what you want

based on what is needed Celebrate diversity Protect NGO independence Expect change

anticipate and plan your future.