Opis organizacji

Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope is a European network that has been hosted by Volunteering Matters (previously CSV Community Service Volunteers) for 24 years and Volunteering Matters' Chief Executive is the President of Volonteurope. Volunteering Matters is a UK registered charity and not for profit organisation, founded in 1962. Volunteering Matters creates volunteering and social action opportunities that enable people to have a positive stake in society. For over 50 years we have worked across England, Wales, Scotland and Europe promoting volunteering activities in a variety of fields including social care, health, criminal justice and community initiatives. Working locally, nationally and internationally, we involved 81,437 volunteers and supported 185,506 beneficiaries across the UK in 2014/15. Volunteering Matters' vision is of a society where everyone can participate to build strong and inclusive communities. Our mission is to enable people to take an active role in their communities. Through volunteering with us, people of all ages and backgrounds are enabled to reap the benefits of putting something back. In partnership with organisations across the UK and Europe, we help people come together to build stronger communities through better services and more fulfilling lives.Volunteering Matters believes in the integrity of volunteering and that it is a valuable activity in its own right. We believe that volunteering enriches public services and the lives of people who volunteer. We believe that volunteering plays an essential role in areas such as social exclusion, education, crime reduction and community care. We believe volunteering is a powerful force in society which brings social change, promotes social inclusion and can make a positive impact on social policy. We provide consistently high quality, highly respected volunteering opportunities, contributing to the growing public understanding of the value of volunteering. We believe that everyone has something to give and to gain from volunteering. We value the energy and commitment that volunteers bring and we believe that young people are part of the solution, not the problem. Our experience is that volunteers can be part of delivering services, strengthening communities and enhancing the quality of individual lives. They can offer flexibility, creativity, and a fresh approach. Volunteers are there because they want to be and they reflect the diversity of any community; bringing a wealth of experience and strengths.Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope is based at Volunteering Matters head office in Hackney, London, but runs projects throughout the UK and Europe. Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope has a long history of organising a wide and diverse range of volunteering projects in particular youth mobility projects accross Europe involving young people with fewer opportunities . One of the main aims of Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope is to encourage active citizenship across Europe, as such one of our main work strands is EU Youth Ambassadors. The project aims to engage young people across Europe in active citizenship and to encourage participation in democratic processes. Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope focuses on engaging young people that are not currently involved in democratic processes helping them to engage in their communities at a local, national and European level.Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope works with Volunteering Matters' International Volunteering Programme in Birmingham and has been involved in promoting international, intercultural volunteering and hosting volunteers from around the world for over 15 years. Staff at Volunteering Matters, Volonteurope have experience of working with international and European volunteers from a variety of countries.