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Scotland’s Volunteering Frameworks: UK, Europe, the World

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

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Scotland’s Volunteering Frameworks: UK, Europe, the World

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  1. Scotland’s Volunteering Frameworks:UK, Europe, the World Vilnius, Lithuania 11th December 2008 Karl Monsen-Elvik Volunteer Development Scotland & European Volunteer Centre (CEV)

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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”.

  9. 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).

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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;

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

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