On 10 May 2022, the 6th annual Gdansk marathon was supported by volunteers, who contributed to the event from start to finish. Volunteers provided each runner’s starting packages with equipment, operated a deposit station for participant’s personal belongings, and helped give participants nutrition and water at various relay points throughout the marathon’s route. You can find more about the event, and how volunteers supported it, here.
Gdansk EVCapital 2022 (PL)
On 7 June 2022, CEV and Gdansk EVCapital hosted a webinar to explore the role of municipalities and volunteers in crisis volunteering, particularly inrelation to the war in Ukraine. The event was moderated by Monika Popow, Chief Specialist President's office Gdansk, and speakers included; Friedemann Walther, Senate Chancellery Berlin, EVCapital 2021; Maria Maślak, Deputy Director of the Social Development Department, City of Gdansk; Roman Dohovic, Plenipotentiary for humanitarian aid to refugees from Ukraine & Miroslav Sambor, Communications Department, City of Košice, EVCapital 2019; Ilaria Ferraro, Projects and Training Manager, Volunteer Centre of Padova and Rovigo, EVCapital 2020; Flavia Boghiu, Deputy Mayor of Brașov; Anna Szadkowska-Ciężka, Deputy Director of the Participation Office, City of Lublin. Find more information here.
Gdansk EVCapital 2022 (PL)
On 17 May 2022, deputy mayor of Gdansk Monika Chabior visited Intel Technology Poland employees and volunteers, to see the actions they have been taking to support the efforts in welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Find more about what Gdansk is doing here.
Gdansk EVCapital 2022 (PL)
On 7 July 2022, the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee will hold a conference entitled “Volunteers – citizens building the future of Europe”, in-person, co-hosted by the city of Gdansk, European Volunteering Capital 2022. The conference aims to examine and reaffirm the societal contribution of volunteers and to create a platform for the exchange of views between various stakeholders from the national, European and global levels.
You can find the draft agenda here, with registrations opening soon!
EVCapital 2024 application closed!
CEV is happy to announce the two EVCapital 2024 candidate applicants: Lviv (UKR) and Trento (IT)! Find more about the EVCapital 2024 here.
EVCapital Candidates Community (EVCCC)- SUPA SAPS
The "Single Use Plastic Awareness - Stop All Plastic Straws" project will bring together 80 young people from Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain to take part in different activities in the 5 host cities, Barcelona, Berlin, Cork, Strovolos and Padova. The Padova portion of the activity period started on 29 May 2022, and the Strovolos portion started from 1 June 2022, with each activity period lasting for 2 weeks. You can read more about the ESC funded project here.
Trondheim EVCapital 2023
CEV Vice President, George Thompson, visited from 26-27 May 2022 to facilitate the storytelling workshop “Recognising Volunteer Faces & Voices” and to meet representatives from the city in an official reception.
#BEV2030 Webinars: Register now!
Join the next INEAR (Inclusion, Equality and Rights in Volunteering) webinar on 22 June 2022, where we will discuss the topic of “Appreciation of Contribution” and explore how we can best ensure that volunteer’s efforts are appropriately recognised, particularly by policy makers. More details about speakers and registration here.
On 3 and 4 October 2022 in Gdansk (Poland) we will hold the Study Visit for both CEV Members and partners and members of the European Volunteering Capital Candidates Community (EVCCC). #EVCapital 2024 candidates presentations will be made as well as the CEV General Assembly, and INEAR Seminar. Stay tuned for more here.
Volunteering Interest Group (VIG) in the European Parliament
On 28 June, the EP VIG will have a meeting at the EP, attended by MEPs, MEP assistants and other stakeholders to discuss the EYV2025, European Solidarity Corps and the Report on the implementation of citizenship education actions. You can register here by 24 June 2022.
CEV Welcomes new team members
In May, Miriah Conte from Italy joined CEV as an Erasmus+ Trainee from the University of Padova (IT) (EVCapital 2020). She will focus on working on the SDGs and with the WISH and TANDEM platforms, as well as supporting the organisation of events. Find more about the staff here.
Volpris Staff training - Lisbon
From 17-20 May 2022, CEV representatives took part in the Volpris Short-Term Joint Staff Training Event in Lisbon, exploring the Volunteering Coordinators’ Profile in the Prison Context. This allowed the presentation of the Volpris Outputs to participants, where they discussed what different entities can do to implement them. More about the Erasmus Plus funded project here.
Volpris Surveys
You can now contribute to the Quality standards for volunteering in prisons questionnaire. Your responses will help greatly with our research and analysis for this Erasmus Plus funded project! Find the survey in English here, and in Romanian, German, French, Polish, and Portuguese by 15 June 2022 12.00 CET. More about the project here.
V4V Volunteering in Sports Survey
This Erasmus plus funded project on skills acquired through volunteering in sport is launching an ambitious survey; mapping all sports-related organisations (clubs, associations, sport federations, ...) throughout Europe to understand how they recruit, train, and manage volunteers. The survey is available in 18 European languages. If you are a volunteer or a member of such an organisation, please fill in the survey by clicking here; your input would be really valuable to us!
DYVO National Workshops
The DYVO National Workshop for Tutors & Assessors was held on 16 May 2022 in Brussels, where validation tools were reviewed and the test DYVO APP was discussed. The second workshop, DYVO National Workshop 7 for Volunteers, was held on 27 May 2022, where the project’s certificate and its use in CVs was reviewed and discussed. You can find this Erasmus Plus funded project page here.
Family Volunteering Partners Meeting and Event
On 24-25 May 2022, CEV took part in the partners meeting and in the Multiplier event on cooperation, crises and Ukraine, which saw the participation of nearly 50 people from Oslo Volunteer Centres and the project’s partners. George Thompson, CEV Vice-President, presented the European Volunteering dimension: “Our challenges unite us, as do the opportunities. If we work together, share experiences and knowledge, then there are no limits to what we can achieve!”. Find more about the Erasmus Plus funded project here.
SLUSIK Partners Meeting
Held between 2-3 June 2022 in Granada, participants discussed different aspects of the project, including piloting service-learning models in schools, creating policy briefs, advocacy plans, local multiplier events and the final conference, as well as general project updates from the project coordinator, and administrative and financial management. Find more about this Erasmus Plus funded project here.
EVI-DEMs Rotterdam
On 20 May 2022, CEV took part in this Erasmus Plus funded project kick-off meeting in Rotterdam in which CEV member CVDC is also part of. EVI-DEMS (Enhancing Volunteer Impact - Developing European Management Standards) will develop a higher-education program and relevant educational resources for existing and future volunteer program coordinators. Find more about the project here.
Stop loneliness Start Volunteering Aarhus
From 7-8 June 2022, CEV and the other partners, including CEV members from Slovenska Filantropija FRISE, Volunteer Ireland and CVDC, met in Aarhus and explored the project plan for this Erasmus Plus funded project. Find more here.
YFJ Event: The 25 Percent - European Year of Youth
On 12 May 2022, Giulia Bordin, Policy and Communication officer, joined the “25 Percent” project final event organised by the YFJ in collaboration with project partners. The project aims at creating a new movement where the unheard 25% of the European population (the youth) can make their voices heard. Find more about the project here.
Meeting with Federació Catalana de Voluntariat Social
On 1 June 2022, Gabriella Civico, CEV director, met with the team of the CEV member organisation in Barcelona. Find more about them here.
Civil Society Europe
Held a strategic meeting regarding funding civil society organisations on 9 June 2022. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange views on the challenges of funding in the NGO sector, both at a national and European level, particularly in the context of the pandemic and invasion of Ukraine. It looked at issues resulting from the implementation of EC funding programmes, and further discussed the creation of a possible common action plan. You can find more on the Civil Society Europe website here.
Volonteurope
On 22 June 2022, the Volonteurope General Assembly will be held in Brussels and online. Gabriella Civico, CEV Director will present “The current state of volunteering in the EU” with EESC member Krzysztof Pater, including a discussion and exchange with participants. There will also be a presentation by Lena Rantsevich (Intellectual Co-living in Irpin, Ukraine) on “The next big story”, a workshop on solidarity, and a workshop by Perdita Wingerter (Gemeinsam leben & lernen in Europa, Germany) named “Photos say more than 1000 words: Using Photovoice method to increase youth participation”. You can register here. Find the agenda here.
European Year of Volunteers 2025
Add your support now to declare 2025 the European Year of Volunteers. Only 500 endorsements are needed to make this idea top of the group! Success would be a fitting tribute to the efforts and impact of volunteers during the COVID19 and Ukraine refugee crisis. The EY 2025 will shine the spotlight on the essential collective actions of volunteers leading to increased health and well being in Europe and provide a suitable framework to better celebrate and reinforce positive recognition of volunteers in Europe. Connect on the #COFOE platform and endorse this idea here. Find the video instructions here.
CVDC, Croatia
DKolektiv, of the Croatian Volunteer Development Centre, is currently looking for one long term ESC volunteer for a project related to creating an inclusive community, fighting social exclusion and encouraging social integration. The project will last for one year, from 01/07/2022 - 30/06/2023. You can find more details and apply here.
CVDC, Croatia
The Croatian Volunteer Week “Croatia Volunteers - The power of volunteering for resilience and a sustainable future” gathered as many as 200 volunteers, who organised over 300 activities in over 90 cities and places in Croatia. Find more here.
Plateforme Francophone du Volontariat, Belgium
On 13 May 2022, the organisation celebrated its 20 year anniversary with a seminar, where participants had the chance to discover the achievements of PFV in Belgium and discuss their future steps. Find more information here.
ProVobis, Romania
On 12 May 2022, the organisation celebrated its 30 year anniversary with an event “ProVo & Friends” that saw the participations of many Pro family - friends, colleagues, beneficiaries, collaborators and supporters, exploring together some of the landmarks of Pro Vobis’ activity in its first 30 years of life and new tools and examples of volunteering. Find the event details here and pictures here.
Fundación Hazloposible
Have launched a new online platform and resource centre for Ukrainian refugees coming to Spain. The platform contains useful information, resources and other content aimed at making adjustment to life in Spain easier for those arriving. It can be easily replicated in other countries - if you are interested please contact hazloposible at: miguel.cervantes(at)hazloposible.org for more information. You can access the platform in Spanish or Ukrainian here.
Plataforma Andaluza de Voluntariado
Have shared their Activity Report for 2021, detailing their actions during the last year, including their new motto for 2022 “Your Strength” which reflects the strength of volunteering activities in facing the many challenges confronting society. You can find the report here.
Plataforma Andaluza del Voluntariado
In cooperation with PVE, organised a bread making workshop for 7 participants to play the EU themed board game “What Europe Kneads?” in Seville, on June 1. As part of the Citizen Engagement for Recovering - Volunteering Solidarity (CERVIS) project, co-financed by the European Union, the board game was created by CEV with the aim of facilitating debate around the future of Europe and European values.
Rockcorps
Deutsche Telekom are launching a new digital platform ‘What We Value’, designed to champion projects with a social impact led by under-30s. For each month during June, July and August, two projects will be rewarded with non-cash support worth up to €35,000. The ‘What We Value’ campaign and platform will amplify the profiles of these projects and their young leaders, while attracting more volunteers and supporters for the projects hosted on the platform. Project leaders will also receive a unique Value NFT, to gain exclusive access to valuable resources and events on a dedicated Discord channel. The ‘What We Value’ platform is open to new project applications on the 10th of June. Please share https://whatwevalue.telekom.com/en-EU/ with any young project leaders who may be interested.
RockCorps is collaborating with Deutsche Telekom to activate the platform so feel free to ask jgollings[at]rockcorps.com if you have any questions.
European Pillar of Social Rights: New format
The European Commission has now released this document and its action plan, which guides the commissions’ work in the field of inclusion and social affairs in the “Easy to Read'' format, which is more accessible for those with disabilities. The guidelines for creating “Easy to Read” texts was designed in 2010 by Inclusion Europe. You can read more and access the documents here.
EESC Resolution on the involvement of Civil Society in NRRPs
The EESC noted that, in general, some of the comments and recommendations of organised civil society regarding the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, were taken into account and adopted, however the social aspect of the plans were often underdeveloped, therefore needing more input from civil society. They called for more involvement of civil society in member states where this was insufficient, and more transparency in the implementation of the NRRPs. You can read more here.
EESC Opinion on the role of Civil Society Organisations as guardians of the common good in the post-pandemic recovery
During the plenary session 18-19 May 2022, it was agreed that engaging with civil society organisations is an effective way for policy makers to better understand the varying needs of different social groups. It was stated that CSOs can offer vital assistance to policy makers in essential areas such as monitoring, but that CSOs should be given the funding and technical support to fulfil these roles. You can read more here.
Civil Society Prize 2022
The EESC has announced the 13th edition of this award for non-profit initiatives, with two categories: Empowering Young People, and Civil Society for Ukraine. The total prize of 60,000 Euros will be shared between the three winners of each category. The deadline for entries is 31 July 2022, with the award ceremony taking place during the EESC plenary on 14-15 December 2022. More information here, and access the application for entry form here.
EP Report on the implementation of citizenship education actions
This report was submitted by Domènec Ruiz Devesa (CULT Committee), Co-Chair of the EP Volunteering Interest Group. It focuses on citizenship education & active participation, including volunteering and Service Learning and how European values and identity are strengthened through the various projects of the European Union. You can read more here.
European Parliament proposed EU Treaties amendments
Following from the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), where reform proposals were developed together with citizens, a majority of the EP have voted in favour of amendments which would remove the national vetoes on EU sanctions. The proposals will be put to a vote by EU heads of government by June 24.
You can read the resolution here.
Here you can check the Liaison Group Newsletter for May 2022.
SoliDARE - European meeting for organisations in the Solidarity Corps
This physical event will take place in Timișoara, Romania, from 20-24 September 2022. The event aims to bring together ESC organisations from across Europe to build a stronger sense of community, allow space for networking, and boost quality in ESC implementation through sharing of best practices. You can find more details and register here.
Deadline for applications: 15 June 2022.
Solidarity - Opening the door to new volunteering fields
From 3-7 October 2022, in Vienna Austria, this event will aim to bring together different organisations and interested parties in new fields of volunteering. It is targeted towards both newcomer organisations interested in stepping into ESC volunteering with or without the Quality Label, and experienced organisations interested in finding partners in new fields of volunteering. You can find more here. Deadline for applications: 15 August 2022.
TOSCA Trainings
The training and support for organisations active in the Solidarity Corps (TOSCA) is a training activity to develop the capacities of all volunteering organisations in the frame of the European Solidarity Corps programme, in order to ensure quality and impact in their respective projects. Find the calendar of the available trainings here and more about TOSCA here.
SALTO: Call for Authors
The European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre are currently looking for 4 paid authors to contribute papers on four topics:
On 20 May 2022, the President, Gerhard Ermischer, addressed the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe during its 132nd session. During the address, he emphasised that meaningful participation of civil society is important in the process of the Council facing the challenges of today and tomorrow. You can read more here.
LLLP Campaign
This years’ campaign focuses on investment in education and training. Specifically, LLLP’s aim is to collectively call for a reform in public funding for education and training based on the Charter for public investment in education and training. It is possible to sign the charter now at this link and find more information here.
World Forum for Democracy 2022
The 10th World Forum for Democracy will take place on 7-9 November 2022 in Strasbourg under the title “Democracy: A New Hope ?”. NGOs, think tanks, educational and civil society organisations can express interests in presenting innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing democracy and reversing global democratic decline. Deadline: 15 June 2022. Find more here.
UNVolunteers: Annual Report 2021
Detailing the activities done by UNVolunteers, as well as reflections on the achievements made by volunteers and developments within the sector; you can find the report here.
Fourth VPL Biennale - Iceland
The 4th Validation of Prior Learning Biennale took place on 19-20 May 2022 in Iceland with The Education and Training Service Centre (ETSC) as host. The Biennale focused on how validation processes can become an integral part of policies and services to support lifelong learning. Find more here.
Flanders - EVC Expansion
The “Elsewhere Acquired Competencies” is a Flemish initiative which seeks to give recognition to skills gained through avenues which lack formal diploma recognition, such as volunteering. The list of jobs for which EVC can be applied to has recently been expanded to 11 more roles, which gives jobseekers more recognition for their non-formalised skill gains and expands their opportunities.
For other European Volunteering and Civil Society related matters check out and subscribe to other newsletters here.
CEV is always willing to welcome new members to our network. You can read more information about membership on our website or in our “Why to be a member of the CEV network?” flyer.
