The European Year of Volunteering 2011 —Update—

1. The European Year of Volunteering 2011—Update—

2. The full title of the Year is …“The European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011)” Council Decision of 27 November 2009 2

3. Why is volunteering important? 3

4. Solidarity Intercultural Dialogue Active ageing Builds up European identity Inter-religious Dialogue Improves employability Social inclusion Integration of migrants Learning opportunities Promotes human rights Active citizenship Environmental protection 4

5. Volunteering is important! Imagine a world without volunteers… 6

6. How does the Commission define ‘Volunteering’? • Our 'definition' is purposefully broad-brushed • Because of different traditions and cultural attitudes to volunteering in the EU • ‘Volunteering’ refers to all types of voluntary activity, whether formal, non-formal or informal, and which are undertaken of a person’s own free will, choice and motivation, without concern for financial gain

7. Key facts 8

8. 94 million people 23% of EU citizens > 15 years old 9

9. What is the volunteering landscape in Europe like today? • 94 million people, or 23% of Europeans aged 15 and older engage in some form of voluntary activity • The typical volunteer is : • 30 to 50 years old, • in employment, and • well-educated (higher education and beyond), • male (males outnumber female volunteers in 11 Member States, and are roughly equal in number in a further 9 countries). • Sport attracts the most volunteers, followed by volunteering in the social sector, aid to the disadvantaged, and the healthsector.

10. > 40% UK SWE NL AUT < 10% BG GR IT LT Big differences between the EU’s Member States – culture, laws & measurement of volunteering varies across countries 11

11. The European Volunteer Measurement Project • Aim: Adoption by Member States of the ILO’s Manual on the Measurement of Volunteer Work • Target: Adoption by 10 – 15 EU Member States by end 2011 • Participants in the project: • SPES – Italian Volunteer Support Centre for the Lazio Region • Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies • European Volunteering Centre (‘CEV’)

12. Reminder: What does the Year hope to achieve? The Year has four objectives: • To foster an enabling environment for volunteering in the EU • To empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering • To reward and recognise volunteering activities • To raise awareness of the value and importance of volunteering

13. What is the budget for the Year? • € 3 millionfor Preparatory Actions in 2010 • € 8 millionfor the Year itself + other sources (Commission funding programmes, etc…)

14. The European Commission’s strategic partners for EYV 2011 • ‘The EYV 2011 Alliance’ of 37 ving networks — the voice of the ving sector in EU • The European Commission supports the EYV 2011 Alliance financially (€400,000 action grant) • Consults & collaborates closely with them • The ‘National Coordination Bodies’ (NCBs) • Responsible for preparing and implementing activities for the Year in their country • Addresses of the NCBs are here: http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/annexes-citizenship/doc1069_en.htm

15. Strategic partners.. • Inter-service Cooperation inside the Commission (DG EAC, ECHO, Eurostat, EMPL, ENTR, etc) • Inter-institutional & International Cooperation (European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions, United Nations, Council of Europe, etc)

16. What are the main elements of the European Commission’s communication campaign? • Common slogan ("Volunteer! Make a Difference") and logo • Four EU-level thematic conferences • Communication toolbox - free to use (videos, leaflets, promotional items, posters) • Official website: www.europa.eu/volunteering • The EYV ‘Tour’ & journalists’ relay

17. Four EU-level thematic conferences • 8 January 2011: Official launch event for the Year, in Budapest. ½ day conference on 'recognition of volunteering' (= third objective of the year). 200 participants. • 23-24 May 2011: A celebration of the volunteer. 2 days. 350 invitees, in Brussels. • 3-4 November 2011: Topic: 'empowering volunteering organisations'. 1½ days, 250 participants, in Athens. • Early December 2011: Closing conference of the Year, in Warsaw. 1½ days, 250 participants. Largely a policy-oriented conference. Date tbc

18. The EYV 2011 Tour so far 1. Brussels: 3 – 12 December 2010 • Successful launch event, involving all 3 language communities • Commission Rep involved • Location not particularly visible (near central train station), but looked good ‘on paper’ • Freezing weather did not help • Not many visitors – mainly commuters on their way to catch a train

19. The EYV 2011 Tour so far 2. Budapest: 8 – 14 January 2011 • President of Hungary involved • Huge media attention • Prominent indoor location(Millenaris Theatre) • 5,200 visitors, 71 organizations • Commission Rep involved

20. The EYV 2011 Tour so far 3. Vienna: 25 – 27 January • Presence of Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Rudolf Hundstorfer • Good media attention • Prominent location (Vienna’s City Hall) • Commission Rep involved

21. The EYV 2011 Tour so far 4. Lisbon: 3 – 9 February • Presence of two Ministers and four First Ladies! • ca. 3,000 visitors • Huge media attention • Prominent location (Fórum Picoas) • Commission Rep involved

22. More Information • The ‘official’ website: • www.europa.eu/volunteering • EYV Task Force team members: • john.macdonald@ec.europa.eu • jutta.koenig-georgiades@ec.europa.eu • ekaterini.karanika@ec.europa.eu 23

23. Volunteer! Make a difference