Watch the video of the CEV News June 2017 highlights here.
For more information about the #EVCapital and for the application forms click here.
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CEV Activities:
On 31 May 2017 CEV issued a press release about the EC proposal for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Legal Basis. You can find it here.
On 4, 5, 6 of October 2017 the CEV Autumn Volunteering Congress will take place in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection in Vienna, Austria. To register and see the programme click here.
CEV published its 2016 Annual Report, highlighting its projects, member initiatives, EV Capital Winners, and impact on volunteering and solidarity in Europe. To read the report click here.
The DEVS Handbook is an important tool to develop better volunteering strategies with clearly identified policy objectives, indicators, methodologies for implementation and impact measurement, as well as a properly supported and functioning volunteering infrastructure.To see the Handbook and final Report of DEVS Days click here. CEV published its 2016 Annual Report, highlighting its projects, member initiatives, EV Capital Winners, and impact on volunteering and solidarity in Europe. To read the report click here.
The NOPROFIT#EUskills study visit took place from the 7-21 of May with participants from different volunteering backgrounds coming from diverse regions of Italy. The project was developed within the framework of Erasmus + in partnership with CEV member, CSV Marche with the aim of giving the possibility to the participants to learn not only about CEV’s vision, mission, work and initiatives within the volunteering sphere, but also by providing insights on the interaction between Civil Society Organisations and EU institutions and knowledge-sharing activities based on the participant’s former volunteering experiences.
On 8 and 9 May, CEV’s Director Gabriella Civico was a moderator at the IAVE 2017 European Conference on Corporate Volunteering. It was concluded from the session on Volunteering to Help Refugees that ‘ corporate volunteering actions are important not only for making change on the ground, in providing direct assistance for refugees and the NGOs seeking to support them, but also in contributing to maintaining, and even increasing, positive attitudes towards refugees in society as a whole.’ You can find the summaries of the sessions here.
CEV Director was invited to participate as a panellist at the seminar "European Solidarity Corps - a real opportunity for young people?" organised by the S&D Group in the European Parliament on 7 June 2017. The event provided the first opportunity for different stakeholders to discuss the proposed Legal Basis for the ESC.
CEV’s European Solidarity Corps members Helena Gandra and Giulia Bordin have been interviewed by the European Commission about their current training placement at CEV funded by the programme European for Citizens. Watch Helena’s interview here and Giulia’s here. Giulia has also spoken at a press conference at the European Commission. Watch it here.
On 16-17 March 2017 the project “EVS realm: Masters of the Learning Path” had its first project meeting. This project is funded by the Erasmus + Programme and is developed by the organisations Pro Vobis - National Resource Center for Volunteering from Romania, Politistiko Ergastiri Ayion Omoloyiton from Cyprus, Stowarzyszenie ANAWOJ from Poland and the CEV. The project aims to increase the quality of the EVS programmes through a better coordination between sending and hosting organisations, developing new guidelines and resources for EVS mentors and staff of organisations involved in the project. You can access the facebook page here and contribute to the survey that is open to all organisations and institutions here:
- For EVS mentors.
- For EVS volunteers.
- For Organisations.
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Volunteer Impact:
“A refugee is a valid person, s/he could be productive in the new society that receives us; just give us the opportunity. I think the volunteer-led Tandem project with refugees lets us prove that. I need to thank the volunteers who have developed and supported the Tandem initiative. For all their support and efforts that they make to help us newcomers (the refugees ones), introducing and integrating us to [Belgian] society I am eternally grateful. Through Tandem, organisations understand that we have our talents, backgrounds and knowledge to share, although it is not easy to find a job and get integrated. The volunteers at Tandem facilitated my two week placement at EDGE Funders Alliance giving me the opportunity to practice the local language and make a new communication network and renew my self-esteem and improve my competences.”
Wassim from Syria benefited from a Tandem placement with the EDGE Funders Alliance in Brussels in spring 2017.
Tandem is an initiative co-led by refugees to support integration in Belgium. They 
do this by creating opportunities for individuals to bring their experience and skills to non-profit organisations via short-term volunteer placements. Find out more and sign up to be a host organisation at www.tandemvolunteering.org
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CEV Members:
Special Edition EV Capital: What did it meant for Sligo to be the EVC 2017?
With less than one month to go until the deadline for the EVC 2019, we were curious to know how the idea of participating in the competition started for the previous EVCs.
Ciara Herity, the Manager of the Sligo Volunteer Centre explained: ‘The idea of applying for the European Volunteering Capital first came across my desk in summer 2015. MEP Marian Harkin had encouraged me to have a look and to consider it. First it seemed like an impossible and daunting task - the previous holders were Barcelona and Lisbon. What would Sligo have to say? When I thought about the fantastic spirit of Sligo people and willingness to help out and get stuck in - I thought - Why not!’
After that, she approached the Sligo County Council ‘as the award had to sit with a municipality. They were happy to participate and we set about making the joint application. It was very surreal to be announced as the European Volunteering Capital 2017 in Lisbon that December 2015 in Lisbon.’
On 23 May, the new legal framework for Volunteering in Andalucia has been approved by
the Board of the Governing Council of Andalucia. One of the features of the new law is, for example, the participation of children under 12 years old, with parental consent, to participate in digital volunteering. Find out more here.
CEV and EVEN Member, Moody's Foundation, has published its seventh annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. The report details the continuing commitment of the company and The Moody's Foundation to good corporate citizenship, investing in communities, and innovation that merges business drivers with thoughtful corporate actions. They stated that “Volunteering is an activity that impacts the employee volunteer, the nonprofit where they volunteer and the nonprofit’s clients. Last year, Moody’s employees logged 13,569 hours of volunteer service, worth $804,924, through the employee engagement program.”
To read the full report click here.
To celebrate Sligo as the European Volunteering Capital 2017, the Irish National Volunteer Management Conference took place on the 30 May in Sligo. This Conference explored the value of investing in volunteers, how to use effectively social media, the pros and cons of rural and student volunteering and the importance of building a strong organisational board. It also counted with the special presence of Ciara Herity from Sligo’s Volunteer Centre and MEP Marian Harkin. To read more about the conference click here.
From 1-7 June 2017, Volunteers’ Week Scotland saw a big range of events taking place in communities all over the country, from small awards ceremonies to large celebratory gatherings. The annual campaign was established in 1984 and it recognises the contribution volunteers make to the communities daily life. Thousands of charities and voluntary organisations gathered to celebrate the vital role made by volunteers all across Scotland. To know more click here.
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EU News:
The European Commission has created a study on the impact of the programme European Voluntary Service (EVS). It describes how five different types of EVS volunteers - ‘Standard students’, ‘Mediterranean students’, ‘Experienced workers’, ‘Disadvantaged jobseekers’ and ‘Western pupils’ - benefit differently from EVS. To read the study click here.
The European Commission’s press release on the legislative proposal for the European Solidarity Corps has been published. The Commission proposed to allocate €341.5 million to the European Solidarity Corps over the period 2018-2020, to enable 100,000 young Europeans to take part by the end of 2020. To read the press release click here and to read the proposal here.
On 17 of May the European Parliament has published the text adopted as the motion for resolution on the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. You can find it here. The text adopted 
emphasises that ‘the continuous development of knowledge, skills and competences – also known as lifelong learning – can contribute to improving people’s individual work and life choices and help people achieve personal development and reach their full potential, thus bringing benefits for society, as well as improving people’s chances of finding a job and safeguarding their careers’.
The European Commission has opened the feedback timeframe on the Revision of the European Citizens' Initiative. The main purpose of this evaluation is to provide an independent assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the programme. You can read all about it and give your opinion here.
After the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker presented a White Paper on the Future of Europe in April , the SDGWatch Europe in collaboration with civil society organisations around Europe, including CEV, have developed a ‘6th scenario’ in response to the white paper, emphasising the need for a sustainable Europe. To read more about it and participate in the endorsement of this cause you can access it here.
From the 19 May - 11 August an open consultation on the EU "Recommendation on Promoting social inclusion and shared values through formal and non-formal learning" will take place. This consultation has as main objective to gather information from the public opinion on the importance of equipping young people with shared values and how education and non-formal learning can help achieve this aim in view of creating more socially cohesive societies. To submit your response click here.
The European Commission has opened the Interim evaluation of the implementation of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative. The initiative is conducted in compliance with the humanitarian aid principles and it covers disaster risk management, coaching, training in volunteer management and other humanitarian aid activities that aim to increase the capacities of disaster-affected communities and build their resilience to humanitarian crises. To submit your feedback click here.
The European Economic and Social Committee has published on the 31 May a mid-term evaluation for the Erasmus+ programme. The aim of this evaluation was to provide information to the EC on the experience of civil society organisations with the enlarged and improved programme. To read the evaluation click here.
Registration for the EESC Civil Society Days 2017, which will take place in Brussels 25-26 J
une, is now open. This year’s theme, "The Europe we strive for", will highlight civil society's call for a new political impulse to relaunch the EU on the basis of our values and roots and also give a clear commitment of civil society organisations to forge ahead.
To register and learn more about this event click here.
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Other News:
The Portuguese Municipality of Amarante is promoting a volunteering programme called ‘Pre’Ocupa-te’. The initiative undertakes children between the ages of 13-17 and it is integrated within their school programme framework. The main objective is to develop a strong volunteering experience since a young age, encouraging further volunteering in the region. To read more click here.
In 2015 the CEV has participated in a survey on the functioning and role of civil society organisations in 
the European Union. The report explores the issues and policy fields that European Interests Groups are interested in, their policy preferences, political contacts, networks and activities. The report can be found here.
From the 30 September until the 1 October the 2017 the Civil Society Europe ‘European Civic Academy’ on the subject of ‘NGOs as drivers for enhanced civic and democratic spaces in Europe’ will take place. The main objective will be for Civil Society Organisations and academics to meet and identify priorities in order to develop possible research collaborations. The topics agreed during the Academy will then be researched in the next year and will be discussed at the next European Civic Academy. Further information will be circulated soon.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is recruiting an International Consultant to produce a report on the ‘Scale and Scope of Volunteerism in 2018’ . To find more details about the position click here.There is also an open vacancy to write on the topic of ‘Volunteer Infrastructure’. To apply click here. The UNV is an organization that contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world.
The Peace Corps has launched a study on the Peace Corps Works: A Cross-Sectional 
Analysis of 21 Host Country Impact Studies. To read more about the impact of volunteering on working partners and the Peace Corps experience on the subject, you can access the materials here or read the full study here.
On the 6 June, the final conference of the project IVO4all took place in Brussels. The project IVO4all main aim is to develop the European and International dimensions of volunteering policies. Recommendations, as well as, presentations were presented and discussed by volunteers, representatives of NGOs, policy makers and other stakeholders. To watch the video click here.
Education#inFocus International Conference will be held on 20-23 June, 2017 at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland. #inFocus is a series of events on addressing social innovations’ issues, considering volunteering as a wheel for social transformation. This year the programme of the Conference will be focused on social innovations for improving the quality and increasing availability of education in accordance with present-day realities. To register and to learn more about the conference click here.
Volunteering New Zealand has published a report on the 2016: ‘State of Volunteering in New Zealand’. One of the findings of the report was that ‘Financial pressures, longer work hours and busy lifestyles have had a large impact on volunteering’. To read the full report click here.
