AllStakeholders

TheEYV2011Alliancebelievesthatallstakeholdersinvolunteeringshould
worktogethertosupportanddevelopvolunteeringinEurope.Assuch,some
actionsshouldbesharedandspecialeffortinvestedtotakecoordinated
actiontoincreaseimpactandpreventtheduplicationofeffortsandresources
investedandensurethatvolunteeringpromotionandimplementation
involvesaninclusiveapproach.Thiswillallowthecapacityofvolunteering
tobemaximisedespeciallyconcerningitscontributiontosocialcohesion
andinclusion.
2.1Worktowardsanenablingandfacilitatingenvironmentforvolunteering
intheEU
2.1.1Ensuretheprovisionofarangeoffundingopportunitiesfor
volunteerinvolvingorganisations.Possibilitiesshouldgobeyondmajor
contractsandprojectbasedfundingtoincludecorefundingorsmallergrants
andcontractpackages,allowingforfullcostrecovery(includingover
heads).Volunteeringasacontributioninkindforcofundingshouldbe
permittedandpreferablymandatory.Beinginreceiptofdirectprivate
donationsortaxassignationsshouldnotbeareasontocutotherformsof
support.
2.1.2CreateandinvestinaEuropeanKnowledgeInstituteon
VolunteeringwithcorrespondingNationalKnowledgeInstituteson
Volunteeringinthememberstates.Suchinstitutesshould
systematicallycollectcomparabledataonratesofvolunteering,analysethe
impactofvolunteering,provideresearchonneedsthatvolunteeringcan
address,actasrepositoriesofgoodpractice,andcreateabodyofevidence
thatisoftenrequiredinpolicymakingortosupportfundingapplications.
2.1.3Elaborateguidelinesforvolunteerengagement.Theguidelines
shouldpromotegoodpracticeandpayattentiontothedevelopmentof
complementaryandharmoniousrolesforvolunteersandstaff.7
2.1.4Ensurethattherightsandresponsibilitiesofvolunteersare
recognisedandrespectedandthatvolunteersthemselvesareawareof
them.AEuropeanCharterontheRightsandResponsibilitiesof
Volunteerscouldbeusedasareferenceforpolicymakingandnational

legislationinthisfield.
2.1.5Supportthefurtherdevelopmentofbrokersandintermediary
organisationsthatfacilitatepartnershipsbetweendifferent
stakeholders.Suchaninfrastructureplaysacriticalroleespeciallyin
developingandsupportingtheinvolvementofbusinesseswithcivilsociety
andlocalcommunitiestostrategicallytacklesocialchallengesfacedby
communitiesandsocietyasawhole.
2.2.Empowerorganisersofvoluntaryactivitiestoimprovethequalityof
voluntaryactivities
2.2.1Agreequalityvolunteeringprinciplesthatallowquality
volunteeringtoflourishandcontributeeffectivelytosocietyand
continuetoidentifygoodpracticemodelsofhowbesttomeasureand
monitorthequalityandimpactofvolunteering.Buildingonthework
undertakenbytheEYV2011Allianceandusingexistinginformation,
practiceandresearchonqualityvolunteeringtheresultsshouldbewidely
disseminatedandcontributetothedevelopmentofanEUqualityassurance
labelforvolunteerinvolvingorganisations.Suchaschemeshouldfollow
theEurope2020agendaandbeyond.Theunitshouldensurethatthe
interestsofvolunteersandvolunteerinvolvingorganisationsarerecognised
andrespectedintherelevantpolicyareasandthattheadoptionofrestrictive
legislationthatwouldcausebarrierstovolunteeringandvolunteer
involvingorganisationsisavoided.
3.1.2IncludevolunteeringasapolicyfieldusingtheOpenMethodof
Coordination(OMC).
UsetheOMCprocesstofacilitateexchangeandcooperationbetweenactors
inthedifferentmemberstates.
3.1.3DevelopthenetworkofEuropeforCitizenscontactpointsinto
activecitizenshipunitsatnationallevel.Tooperateaseffective
interlocutorsonvolunteeringissuestocomplementthestructureddialogue
forcivilsocietyorganisationsintheframeworkoftheEuropeforCitizens
Programme.

3.1.4Safeguardandimprovetheamountandrangeoffunding
programmesandmechanismsforvolunteering.Continue,andwhen
possibleincrease,thesupportthatiscurrentlygiventovolunteeringinfuture
EUmultiannualfinancialframeworksusingtheproposalintheECCom
municationonVolunteeringasabasis.Possibilitiesshouldgobeyondmajor
financialagreements,contractsandprojectbasedfundingtoincludecore
fundingorsmallergrantsandcontractpackages,allowingforfullcost
recovery(includingoverheads)andthecurrentthematicfocusshouldbe
widened.Volunteeringasacontributioninkindforcofundingshouldbe
permittedandshouldbemandatoryforsmallandverysmallgrants14.In
thiswaythetargetedsupportforEuropeannetworksactiveinvolunteering
shouldbemaintainedwhilstatthesametimeincreasingaccesstoEUfunds
forgrassrootsorganisations.Thiswillguaranteeacontinuingexchangeof
ideasandgoodpracticeinvolunteering.
3.1.5Improvethemanagementofinformationaboutandaccessto
Europeanprogrammes,projects,andfundingopportunitiesrelatedto
volunteering.Createnewtoolsandimproveandsimplifycurrent
mechanismswhereneededtakingintoaccountthecapacitiesandneedsof
smallervolunteerinvolvingorganisationsespeciallywithregardtothe
applicationandreportingproceduresforfunding.
3.1.6Adoptacommonapproachtovolunteeringlegislation.Astronger
roleshouldbedevelopedindeterminingthelegalrecognitionofvolunteers
intheEUwhichwouldcontributetoamoreequaltreatmentofvolunteers,
enhancingtheirmobilitywithintheEU.
3.1.7AdoptaEuropeanStatutesofAssociations15.Thiswillsupportthe
creationofaEuropeanlevelvolunteeringinfrastructurebyallowingthe
legalandinstitutionalrecognitionofEuropeanvolunteerinvolving
organisationsenablingvolunteeringtobeatrulyEuropeanactivitywhich
canpromoteandsupportmobility.
3.1.8FacilitatevolunteeringforthirdcountrynationalsintheEUto
supportvolunteercrossbordermobility.Thisshouldbeforboththird
countrynationalsalreadyintheEUandforthosewhowishtoentertheEU
forthepurposeofvolunteeringthroughthedevelopmentofaspecificvisa
categoryforvolunteerswithfasttrack,freeofchargevisaprocedure.

3.2Empowerorganisersofvoluntaryactivitiestoimprovethequalityof
voluntaryactivities
3.2.1Conductandfundresearchonvolunteering.Suchresearchshould
targetdifferentmodelsandframeworksforvolunteeringsuchasemployee
volunteering16orfulltimevoluntaryservice.Thefindingsshouldbeusedto
improvequalityinthedifferentvolunteeringfields,modelsandapproaches.
3.3Recognisevoluntaryactivitiesinordertoencourageappropriate
incentivesforindividuals,companiesandvolunteerdevelopment
organisations
3.3.1Increasetheefficiencyandvaliditywithrespecttovolunteeringof
allcurrentandfutureEuropeanLifeLongLearning(LLL)17

recognitiontoolstogetherwithotherstakeholders.Thereductionofthe
administrativeburdensintheuseofthesetoolsandincreasedsupportfor
theirusewouldcontributetothis,aswouldanextensiveevaluationof
currentandplannedtools.
3.3.2Recommendtomemberstategovernmentstoraiseawarenessof
volunteeringineducationsystems.Thiswouldcontributetothe
developmentofincreasedknowledgeandawarenessofthebenefitsof
volunteering.
3.3.3Standardisetheoutcomesofrecognitiontoolsandother
opportunitiestogainsupplementaryEuropeanCreditsatuniversities
throughvolunteering.ThiswouldmeanthattheEuropeanCreditTransfer
AccumulationSystem(ECTS)wouldincorporateastandardmechanismfor
recognisinglearningachievedthroughvolunteering.
3.3.4ContinuetosupporttheEmployeeVolunteeringAwardsto
encourageandpromoteemployeevolunteering.Usingexamplesof
excellencetoinspireandpromotegoodpracticeandencouragefurther
developmentofemployeevolunteeringschemes.
3.4Raiseawarenessofthevalueandimportanceofvolunteering
3.4.1CallonEurostattointroduceappropriatemeasurementtoolsand
comparablequalitativeandquantitativeindicatorsforvolunteering

withintheirdatagatheringatalllevelssuchasthatproposedbythe
EuropeanVolunteeringMeasurementProject18.Thiswouldensure

accuratedatacollectiontakingintoaccountthesize,scope,dynamics,
impactandeconomicvalueofvolunteeringandsoensuringthepossibility
ofevidencebasedpolicymakingandcomparativeanalysis.
3.4.2Allowvolunteertimetobeincludedascontributioninkindwitha
financialvalueascofundinginallEuropeanfundedprogrammesand
callonmemberstatestodothesame.Theintroductionofacommon
volunteeringmeasurementpracticewouldfacilitatethefairapplicationof
suchapossibility.
4EUMemberStates
InaccordancewiththeprincipleofsubsidiaritytheroleoftheEUmember
statesinthefieldofvolunteeringistoensurethatvolunteeringpoliciesand
strategiescreateanenvironmentthatenablescitizenstocontributetoa
bettersocietythroughvolunteering.TheEYV2011Alliancebelievesthat
whilstvolunteeringpolicyatmemberstatelevelshouldbeinaccordance
withtheoverallEUpolicyframeworkforvolunteeringnationaltraditions
andcontextsshouldbeanessentialfactorwhendevelopingthevolunteering
environment.Consultationandcollaborationwithallrelevantstakeholders
atthenationallevelshouldalsobeanessentialfeatureofallmattersrelated
tovolunteering.Policiesshouldaimtosupport,recogniseandtrustthe
addedvalueof,andinnovativeapproachesto,volunteeringthatcontribute
positivelytothedevelopmentofrespectfulandcohesivecommunities.
SometimesasanaddedvaluetotheservicesprovidedbytheState.
4.1Worktowardsanenablingandfacilitatingenvironmentforvolunteering
intheEU.
4.1.1Developanationalvolunteeringstrategyfollowingtheguidance
providedbyP.A.V.E.
Suchastrategyshouldbebasedonacoordinatedandproactiveapproach
tovolunteeringpolicyinpartnershipwithallstakeholdersandtakeinto
accountthebenefitsofvolunteeringfortheindividual,thecommunityand
theoverallsociety.Thestrategyshouldincludemechanismstoclosely
monitorvolunteeringespeciallyinthosecountrieswithlessdeveloped

volunteeringcultures.Possibilitiesforcrossbordervolunteeringshouldbe
facilitatedanddeveloped.
4.1.2Recognisevolunteersasanaddedvalueinpublicprocurement
proceduresinthehealthandsocialsector.Thiswouldmaketheabilityto
mobiliseacertainnumberofvolunteersinspecificcasesapositivecriterion
inpublictendersequaltothecreationofnewjobs.
4.1.3Developsupportivelegalframeworksforvolunteeringreversing
existinglawsthatcreatebarrierstovolunteering.Differentstakeholders
shouldbeinvolvedintheprocessandthedevelopmentoftheframeworks
andtheirimpactregularlymonitored.Theframeworkandmonitoring
processesshouldensurethefollowingprinciplesaremaintained:
4.1.4Everyonehasthefreedomtovolunteerandnooneisforcedtotake
partinvolunteerprogrammes.Attentionshouldbegiventothepromotion
andfacilitationofequalaccesstovolunteeringthroughthedevelopmentof
inclusivevolunteeringpoliciesandprogrammesandduerecognitiongiven
totherolethatthisplaysinpromotinginclusion.
4.1.5Accesstoadequatesocialprotection(health,accidentandliability
insurance).Thisshouldbesecuredforallvolunteerswherepossiblebut
especiallyforthoseoperatinginanorganisationalframework.Volunteer
involvingorganisationsshouldbeprovidedwithaccesstofinancialsupport
tocovertheassociatedcosts.
4.1.6Protectionfromthelossofsocialbenefitssuchasunemployment
benefitsandsocialsecuritybenefits.Volunteersshouldnotlosetheirright
tostatebenefitsbecausetheyvolunteerandvolunteers,andtheirvolunteer
involvingorganisationswhererelevant,shouldensurethatthevolunteering
doesnotinterferewithorgoagainsttheclaimantrequirements.
4.1.7Measuresareadoptedtofacilitatevolunteeringforemergency
services.Theseprovisionsshouldincludecompensationmeasuresfor
employersofemployeeswhoarealsovolunteersandwhoincasesof
emergencyleavetheworkplacetovolunteerforthebenefitofthepublic,for
exampleinreliefoperationsaftermajoraccidents,floods,earthquakesor
largescalefires.

4.1.8Reducedrequirementsforcompulsorycriminalrecordchecks.
Thisrequirementshouldbeappliedtovolunteersonlywhenabsolutely
necessarytoprotectvulnerablepeopleandshouldbecostfreeandissuedin
areasonabletimeframe.
4.1.9Taxprovisionssupportvolunteering:Volunteersshouldnotpay
incometaxonmoneyreceivedasreimbursementofexpensesincurredin
relationtovolunteering;VATrequirementsshouldavoidadministrative
burdensthatcannotbeeasilyundertakenbyvolunteers;volunteerinvolving
organisationsshouldnotberequiredtopaytaxonfundsreceivedthrough
privatedonations;privatedonationsshouldbetaxdeductibleforthedonors;
measuresshouldbeintroducedtopreventcompaniessendingtax
assignationstoorganisationsandfoundationsexclusivelybenefitingthe
employeesofthecompanyand/ortheirrelatives;financialincentivesfor
employersthatestablishemployeevolunteeringschemesshouldbe
developed.

4.2Empowerorganisersofvoluntaryactivitiestoimprovethequalityof
voluntaryactivities
4.2.1Agree,togetherwithotherstakeholdersanationalframeworkof
thekeyprinciplesandcomponentsofqualityvolunteering.Sucha
frameworkwhichshouldbedevelopedtakingintoaccountthespecific
contextandcultureofvolunteeringandthegoodpracticeexamples
available.Itshouldalsoreflectthegeneralframeworkofthekeyprinciples
andcomponentsofqualityofvolunteeringandqualityassuranceprocesses
developedattheEUlevel.Itshouldbeusedbyallstakeholdersandbe
appliedtofundingdecisionsandthedevelopmentofpoliciesand
programmes.
4.3Recognisevoluntaryactivitiesinordertoencourageappropriateincen
tivesforindividuals,companiesandvolunteerdevelopmentorganisations
4.3.1Createandallowanofficialstatusofvolunteer.Thisshouldbe
availableforallthosewhowantitwithoutforcinganyonetoberegistered.
4.3.2Promoteawarenessofvolunteeringineducationsystemstogether

withotherstakeholders.Thiswouldcontributetoformingamoresolid
cultureofvolunteeringandincreasetherecognitionofthecontributionof
volunteeringtoindividualselfdevelopmentandactivecitizenship.Co
operationbetweeneducationprovidersandvolunteerinvolving
organisationsshouldbefosteredandthroughthedevelopmentofappropriate
mechanismsprovidesupportfortheprovisionofrecognisedtrainingfor
volunteers.
4.3.3Developinpartnershipwithotherstakeholdersnationalstandards
formeasurementofpersonalcompetencesgainedthroughvolunteering.
Recognisedaccreditationforpriorlearning(APL)throughvolunteering
wouldfacilitatebetterunderstandingofitsvaluetoLifeLongLearning
processes.Partnershipswithotherstakeholdersshouldalsobeusedto
developsuitabletoolswhichtakeintoaccounttheexistingcultureof
recognitionandservetorecognisethevarietyofcompetencesthatcanbe
gainedthroughvolunteering.Theseshouldbedevelopedwithinacommon
frameworktoenablethetransferabilityofskills.
4.3.4Developpublicrewardsorawardssystemsforvolunteers.Thiswill
promoteacultureofrecognitionamongstthepublic,media,andsocial
partnersandotherstakeholdersgenerally.
4.4Raiseawarenessofthevalueandimportanceofvolunteering
4.4.1Developmechanismstoenablevolunteerinvolvingorganisations
tobeabletoofficiallyincludethevalueofthevolunteereffortintheir
profitandlossaccounts.Themechanismsshouldbemanageableandnot
createinsurmountableadministrativeburdens.Theyshouldbedesignedso
astoallowforamoreaccuratevaluetobegiventotheactivitywhichhas
beenenhancedthroughvolunteering.
4.4.2Introduce,aspartoftheofficialdatagatheringprocedures,
appropriatemeasurementtoolsandcomparablequalitativeand
quantitativeindicatorsforvolunteering.Thisshouldensureaccuratedata
collectiontakingintoaccountthesize,scope,dynamics,impactand
economicvalueofvolunteeringandsoensuringthepossibilityof
evidencebasedpolicymaking.
4.4.3Recognisealinkbetweenvolunteeringandemployability.Whilst

volunteeringshouldnotbeseenasareplacementforemploymentthe
capacityofvolunteeringtoprovideinnovativeresponsestothiscommon
challengeshouldberecognisedandsupported.
5SocialPartners
Employersfromallsectorsandtradeunionsareimportantactorsfor
volunteeringandintheinterstakeholdervolunteeringdialogue.Employers
andtradeunionshaveanimportantroletoplayinrecognisingand
supportingvolunteeringwhetheritoccursaspartofanemployee
volunteeringschemeorinanemployeesowntime.TheEYV2011Alliance
hasidentifiedseveralconcreteactionsthatemployersandtradeunionscan
developtogetherinordertofurthersupportvolunteerswhomaybetheir
employeesormembersandvolunteeringgenerally.
5.1Worktowardsanenablingandfacilitatingenvironmentforvolunteering
intheEU.
5.1.1Leadadialogueaboutemployeevolunteeringandemployer
supportedvolunteering.
Thisshouldtakeplaceonbothapolicyandprogrammelevelindifferent
decisionmakingstructures,shouldinvolveallstakeholdersandtake
specialnoteoftheviewsandwishesofemployees.
5.1.2Fosteranddevelopemployeevolunteeringschemesandemployer
supportedvolunteering.Volunteeringundertakenbyemployees
themselvesattheirowninitiative(andinlinewiththeemployersvalues)
should,ifdesiredbytheemployeeconcerned,betreatedequallyasthatin
theframeworkofemployeevolunteeringschemes.
5.2Empowerorganisersofvoluntaryactivitiestoimprovethequalityof
voluntaryactivities
5.2.1Promotecorporatesocialresponsibility(CSR)policiesthatresult
inbetterqualityvolunteering.Thepoliciesshouldbedevelopedtogether
withvolunteerinvolvingorganisationsandbeusedtocontributetothe
supportgiventovolunteeringbothfinanciallyandinkind.

5.3Recognisevoluntaryactivitiesinordertoencourageappropriate
incentivesforindividuals,companiesandvolunteerdevelopment
organisations
5.3.1Raiseawarenessofthecontributionthatemployeesengagedin
volunteeringcanmake.Especiallytoeconomicandsocialcapitalthrough
theskillsandcompetencestheygainthroughvolunteeringwhether
undertakenaspartofaninternalemployeevolunteeringschemeor
volunteeringatanemployeesowninitiative.
5.3.2Exploreanddevelopwaystoincludeemployeevolunteering
programmesaspartoftheusualmanagementofcareerdevelopment.
Thisisespeciallyrelevantforemployeeswhoareunderoccupiedorin
transitionduetochangesintheworkplace,forexampleinintoretirementor
anewpost.
5.3.3Develophumanresourcespoliciesandcapacitiestoassist
employeesandpotentialemployeesinbettercommunicatingthe
learningachievedthroughvolunteering.Thiswillincreasetherecognition
ofthecriticalroleofvolunteeringinincreasingemployability,personal
developmentandactivecitizenship.
5.3.4Acknowledgethatvolunteeringisanimportantpartofemployees
personalandskillsdevelopmentandactasambassadorstopromotethe
possibilitiesforvolunteeringinrelevantforums.Appraisalsystems
shouldbeusedtorecognisethelearningachievedthroughvolunteering
undertakenbytheiremployees
5.3.5RecognisethatBusinessCommunityInvestmentismorethanjust
philanthropy.Focusshouldbegiventohowactivitiesinthecommunity
createapositiveimpactandprovideadded
valuewithemployeevolunteeringasavitalelementengagingtheworkforce
andputtingafaceonanorganisations(CSR)programme.
5.3.6Developanationallevelcatalogueofthosewhoactivelypromote
employeevolunteering.Thisshouldbedonetogetherwithvolunteer
involvingorganisationsandwouldserveasaresourceforotherstakeholders
interestedinexploringemployeevolunteeringopportunitiesand

partnerships.
5.3.7Createachallengesuchascommunityactiondaysatlocal,
nationalandEuropeanlevel.
Mediacoverageinsuchaneventwouldfurtherstimulateinterestofand
discussionsinemployeevolunteeringandvolunteeringgenerally.
5.4

Raiseawarenessofthevalueandimportanceofvolunteering

5.4.1Clearlystatehowvolunteeringisvaluedandpromotethevalueof
employeevolunteeringandemployersupportedvolunteeringasan
integralpartofCSRpolicies.Documentitaspartofanorganisations
widerpublicreporting(e.g.CSRorintegratedreport)andcommunicateitto
allstakeholders.
5.4.2BuildupontheresultsofprojectssuchastheCSRLaboratory
SkillsforEmployabilityEnhancedthroughEmployeeCommunity
Engagement.19Thiswillallowfortheincreasedpromotionofthevalue
ofemployeevolunteeringprogrammesinfosteringtheskillsof
disadvantagedandexcludedgroups.

5.4.3Recognisethevalueofvolunteeringforthetriplebottomline.20
FullcostaccountingundertakenaspartofCSRpoliciesandcommitments
shouldtakeintoaccounttheecologicalandsocialperformanceaswellas
financialandshouldthereforeincludeanyvolunteeringundertakenbyits
employeesespeciallywhendoneintheframeworkofanemployee
volunteeringschemeandwhentheemployeeacceptsthatitshouldbeso.
5.4.4Contributetobetterunderstandingofthevalueofemployee
volunteeringforallstakeholders.Promotetheinclusionofsuitablekey
performanceindicatorsforemployeevolunteeringanditsimpactinto
existingandwidelyacknowledgedreportingstandardscomplementedwith
qualitativemethods,casestudiesandevaluationandmonitoringprocesses.
6CivilSociety
Whilstfocussingoncivilsocietygenerallyasanimportantstakeholderfor

volunteering,civilsocietyorganisationsinparticularnotonlyinvolve
volunteersbutrelyheavilyonvolunteersfortheircontinuedexistence.Civil
societyorganisationsthereforearethestakeholdergroupwiththeclosest
directcontactwithvolunteersthemselves.Aprimaryresponsibilityofcivil
societyorganisationsisnotonlytoworkwithotherstakeholderstoensure
thatthevolunteerandvolunteerinvolvingorganisationperspectiveistaken
intoaccountbutalsotodirectlycareforandsupportvolunteersinthebest
waypossibleandsetgoodpracticeexamplesforallotherstakeholdersand
partners.TheEYV2011Alliancebelievesthatsomedirectinitiativesonthe
partofcivilsocietywouldcontributeimmenselytotheimprovedsituation
forvolunteersinEurope.
6.1Worktowardsanenablingandfacilitatingenvironmentforvolunteering
intheEU.
6.1.1Continuetodeveloplegitimaterepresentationplatformsof
volunteerinvolvingorganisationsatallpolicylevels.Suchplatforms
shouldaimtoberepresentativeandfacilitatevaluabledialoguewithother
stakeholders.
6.1.2Developandestablishstrategiestoreduceandmonitorpossible
tensionsbetweenlocalneedsandprojectdeliverablesrequiredby
funders.Thiswillcontributetoensuringamoreenablingenvironment
ensuringthatthevalueofvolunteeringisalwaysmaximised.
6.2Empowerorganisersofvoluntaryactivitiestoimprovethequalityof
voluntaryactivities
6.2.1Implementstrategiesandinvestresourcesinthecontinuous
developmentofeffectiveleadership,participationandvolunteer
managementsystems.Theintroductionofqualityprinciples,volunteer
agreements,monitoringsystemsandmechanismstoensurethatvolunteers
aremoreinvolvedandhaveinfluenceonthemanagementanddecision
makinginvolunteerinvolvingorganisationsareexamplesofthis.
6.2.2Promoteandsupporttherecognition,traininganddevelopmentof
volunteers.Thiswouldresultinabetterdevelopmentoftheirtalentsand
helptoaddressanymismatchbetweenvolunteeravailabilityand
organisationalneed.

6.3Recognisevoluntaryactivitiesinordertoencourageappropriate
incentivesforindividuals,companiesandvolunteerdevelopment
organisations
6.3.1Ensurethatthemethodsofrecognitioncontinuetoreflect
volunteersneeds.Establishastrategicapproachtotherecognitionof
volunteering,identifyingtheaimsofsuchastrategy,theneedsofdifferent
stakeholders,availableresourcesandmethodsofmonitoringandevaluation
basingtherecognitionmethodsandpracticesontheindividualneedsof
volunteersandonselfrecognitiontools.
6.3.2Developsystemstorecognisetheknowledge,skills,and
competencesacquiredthroughvolunteering.Makingfulluseofavailable
toolsforqualitativerecognitionandaccreditation21andthedevelopment
ofnewinitiatives.
6.3.3Establishsystemsofvolunteermanagementwhichalsodevelop
andsustainacultureofrecognitionwithintheorganisation.Thiswill
enablebothstaffandvolunteerstobeawareoftheirroleinrecognising
volunteering.
6.3.4Ensurethattheroleofvolunteersandtheircontributiontothe
goalsoftheirorganisationarepromoted.Thisshouldincludeall
relevantcommunicationmaterialsdevelopedbytheorganisationorits
partners/fundersandinvolvecollaborationwithothervolunteerinvolving
organisationstocelebratethecontributionvolunteersmaketosocietyusing
relevantoccasionssuchasInternationalVolunteerDay(5December)or
InternationalVolunteerManagersDay(5November).
6.4Raiseawarenessofthevalueandimportanceofvolunteering
6.4.1Encouragemediasupportforactivitiesintendedtoraisepublic
awarenessaboutvolunteeringanditsvalueandimpactonsociety.All
availableformsofmediashouldbeusedincludingmoretraditionalmedia
andsocialmedia.
6.4.2Facilitatetheinvolvementofvolunteersindecisionmakingat
everylevelintheorganisation.Thiswillnotonlyincreasethevalueof
thecontributiontheymakebutalsoawarenessofitinternallyandexternally.

6.4.3Provideanappropriateandeffectiverecruitment,trainingand
managementcycleforvolunteerstomaximisetheaddedvalueoftheir
effortsandactivities.Specialattentionshouldbegiventoensurethatthe
contributionofnewvolunteersispromoted,understoodandsupportedby
existingvolunteers.Everyvolunteerisonlyonenewvolunteerawayfrom
doublingthevolunteernumbersinEurope.