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About volunteering

Volunteering can be defined as any activity that involves spending unpaid time, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives.

Central to this definition is the fact that volunteering must be a choice freely made by each individual.

This can include formal activity undertaken through public, private and voluntary organisations as well as informal community participation.

 
What are the main issues for volunteering development agencies and volunteering involving organisations?
  1. raise awareness in the public, private and third sectors of volunteering and its value to society
  2. strengthen leadership, management and diversity in volunteering
  3. ensure a volunteering-friendly economic, political and social environment
  4. secure and support an effective and sustainable volunteering infrastructure at local, regional and national level, including a network of quality volunteer centres, promoting and enabling volunteering and community involvement.