Never say never - a guide to voluntary work
by Daisy Evans
Voluntary work is a massive and some would say under-recognised part of modern European Culture. Formally, volunteering is any activity freely undertaken with the aims of benefiting someone other than the volunteer and contributing to society in general. Even discounting informal volunteering - such as caring for relatives and friends as needs arise, the economic value of volunteering in the UK accounts for more than €65 billion per annum, which is nearly 8% of gross domestic product (GDP). It is believed that around 38% of UK residents volunteer on a formal basis at any one time - around 23 million each year, providing a workforce equivalent to 180,000 full time workers.
Young people contribute hugely in the volunteer sector - expanding their skills and knowledge, combining volunteering with training, gaining valuable life skills, and making themselves more employable in the long term. Volunteering is a great way to get to know your local community, and it is said that in terms of mental health, those involved in active community work achieve higher levels of personal satisfaction and even happiness. Volunteering can act as a useful bridge, redressing imbalances between live and work that contribute to a huge amount of modern day urban stress.
Find below a guide to UK and international resources for volunteering as well as an introduction to the European Voluntary Service (CEV), the European umbrella association of over 40 national and regional volunteer centres throughout Europe.
What is the European Voluntary Service?
The European Voluntary Service (CEV) is the European umbrella association of over 40 national and regional volunteer centres throughout Europe that work together to support and promote voluntary activity. It channels the collective priorities and concerns of its member organisation towards the institutions of the European Union (EU). It acts as a central forum for the exchange of policy, best practice and information on volunteerism. It supports networking among its members and organises conferences, seminars and social research. Its website is presented in 15 languages.
It was founded in February 1990 and in 1992 was officially granted the status of international non-profit organisation. In 1995 the CEV organised the first European Day for Volunteering. Its members represent thousands of volunteer organisations, associations and other groups at local, regional and national level. They work in harmony to influence social policy, strengthen infrastructure for volunteering Europe-wide and to promote effective volunteering in whatever form it takes.
Its declared ethos is as follows:
At CEV, we believe that voluntary action is at the heart of European ideals of democracy, active citizenship, participation and empowerment. Volunteering also makes an important contribution to national economies, and we believe it should be reflected in Member States' calculations of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Million of citizens throughout Europe are actively involved in service provision, mutual aid, advocacy, campaigning, management, community and environmental action. Volunteering is one of the ways in which people of all nationalities, religions, socio-economic backgrounds and ages can contribute to positive social, political and environmental change. We believe that everyone has the right to engage in some form of voluntary activity, that voluntary action should be effective and that volunteers should benefit from effective management and training.
Generally it works towards greater recognition of the social, cultural and environmental value of volunteering, and of involving voluntary organisations in the political decision-making process.
It is headquartered in Brussels:
The European Volunteer Centre
Rue de la Science 10
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 511 75 01
Fax: +32 2 514 59 89
NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:
Community Service Volunteers (CSV)
Founded over 40 years ago, CSV is the UK's largest volunteer and training organisation promoting community work and other services. Holds the annual CSV "Make a Difference" Day, which this year is on Saturday 28th October 2006.
http://www.csv.org.uk/
Do it.org
do-it.org.uk was set up in 2001 and has a unique national database of volunteering opportunities in the UK. Opportunities are searchable by postcode. It is part of the non-profit organisation YouthNet. Free for organisations to register their opportunities or users of the online database.
http://do-it.org.uk
Time Bank UK
TimeBank is the national charity which connects people with time and skills with those who need it. It appeals to people who know that their time and talent is in demand, but don't know how best to deploy them. It enables charitable organisation and businesses to develop innovative volunteer recruitment programmes.
http://www.timebank.org.uk/
REGIONAL VOLUNTEERING UK:
Scotland
Work with us - volunteering opportunities, news, events and networking
Workwithus.org
The Volunteer Centre Network, Scotland - portal to a range of opportunities throughout Scotland, powered by Scotland's Volunteer Centres.
http://www.volunteerscotland.info
Wales
Volunteering Wales - bi-lingual website from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
http://www.volunteering-wales.net/
Northern Ireland
The Volunteer Development Agency, Northern Ireland. Provides information about finding a suitable role as a volunteer in the region.
http://www.volunteering-ni.org/
GAP YEAR VOLUNTEERING:
Please see our special feature on Gap Year Work.
Real Gap
Real Gap offers hundreds of real gap year and career break adventures. The programmes extend to over 30 countries across the globe and provide excellent opportunities to travel, work abroad, volunteer with communities, children and wildlife and learn new skills. Paid work, volunteering, wildlife projects, community work in developing countries, conservation volunteers, learning new skills, teaching with or without a TEFL qualification and other skilled work.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS OFFERING VOLUNTEER POSITIONS:
Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)
Originating in the late 1950s, VSO has grown into one of the most progressive development charities in the world. It promotes innovative approaches to volunteering, and a recent change is that it no longer recruits school-leavers - all applicants must have either a skill or work experience. It recruits people between the ages of 20 and 75, with the average age of a volunteer now 38. It currently has over 2,000 skilled professionals working in over 40 countries.
http://www.vso.org.uk/
The Coral Cay Conservation Trust
The UK's only charity dedicated to protecting coral reefs and tropical forests - and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them. David Bellamy is president. There are many opportunities for gap year students to participate in Coral Cay Conservation Trust expedition, which will allow you to develop your tropical ecology knowledge and team-building skills, give you greater independence, lifelong friendships, and overall improved career prospects.
http://www.coralcay.org/index.php
Christian Aid
One of the UK's most prominent charities has a long-standing gap year programme in force. A structured year is spent in local offices - based in the UK and incorporating a trip abroad. A great opportunity for any young person committed to social justice and improving the world around them. Support and training are given as well as a real sense of working towards conquering world poverty.
http://www.pressureworks.org.uk/dosomething/Gap/index.html
Africa and Asia Venture (AV)
A specialist organisation, with 12 years experience, offering highly structured and supported gap year programmes usually involving teaching, sports coaching, and conservation and community projects. All employment is voluntary and upon arrival each volunteers is given a four-day orientation course. Topics covered include health and welfare, teaching skills, security, safe travel, conservation and local language.
It caters for 18-24 year olds, who are looking to combine four or five months travel, safaris, adventure, friendship and fun.
http://www.aventure.co.uk/scheme-new.html
© Daisy Evans. All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to the European Commission.