United Kingdom

 

- Word for volunteering : Volunteering.

- Words for associations: non-profit organisations, NGO, non-governmental organisations.

 

England :

There is no statutory definition for volunteering in the UK, however there is a definition of volunteers in the 1997 Police Act. More recently, Volunteering England define volunteering as,

‘Any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives’. This definition is widely used across England and is reinforced in the Volunteering Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in England Code of Good Practice.

 

Scotland :

Volunteer Development Scotland defines volunteering as: ‘The giving of time and energy for the benefit of individuals, groups, communities, or the environment. It is undertaken by choice, and is the largest single means by which individuals engage actively with their communities. It is intrinsically linked to civic engagement, social justice, lifelong learning, and community regeneration.’

 

Wales :

The definition of volunteering used by the Welsh Assembly Government in the Voluntary Sector Scheme is: ‘Volunteering is an important expression of citizenship and is an essential component of democracy. It is the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society and the community and can take many forms. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain.’

 

Ireland :

As set out in the June 2009 consultation of a Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland, the definition of volunteering referred to in the consultation document is: “The commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of society and the community, the environment or individuals outside (or in addition to) one’s immediate family. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain.”

 

 For further information, see the report of the European Commission about volunteering in the UK.

 

Volunteering England

 

Volunteering England is the National Volunteer Development Agency for England which came into operation on 1 April 2004. The agency was formed as a result of the coming together of The Consortium on Opportunities for Volunteering, The National Centre for Volunteering and Volunteer Development England. Volunteering England works to promote volunteering as a powerful force for change, both for those who volunteer and for the wider community.

 

Volunteering England

Regents Wharf

8 All Saints Street

London N1 9RL

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7520 8900

Fax: +44 (0) 20 7520 8910

E-mail: information@volunteeringengland.org

Web site: http://www.volunteering.org.uk

 

Institute for Volunteering Research, IRV

 

The Institute for Volunteering Research (IRV) aims to develop knowledge and understanding of volunteering and the context in which operates, with particular relevance to policy and practice. IVR's activities include strategic research, action research, organisational consultancy, programme evaluation and seminars and publications.

 

Institute for Volunteering Research, IRV

Regent's Wharf - 8 All Saints Street

GB-London, N1 9RL

Tel.:+44 02 75208911

Fax: +44 20 75208910

E-mail: Instvolres@aol.com

Web site : http://www.ivr.org.uk

 

Active Community Unit (ACU)

Web site : http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk

 

ARVAC, the Association of Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector

2d, Aberdeen Studios

22-24 Highbury Grove

London N5 2EA

Tel.: +44 20 7704 2315

E-mail : arvac@arvac.freeserve.co.uk

Web site: http://www.arvac.org.uk

 

Community Service Volunteers, CSV

CSV Head Office

237 Pentonville Road

London N1 9NJ

Tel.: +44 20 7278 6601

E-mail: information@csv.org.uk

Web site: http://www.csv.org.uk

 

Do-it.org.uk

3rd Floor, 2-3 Upper Street

Islington

London N1 0PH

Tel.: +44 20 7226 8008

Fax: +44 20 7226 8118

E-mail: info@do-it.org.uk

Web site: http://www.do-it.org.uk

 

Millennium Volunteers

Department for Education and Skills

Room E4c

Moorfoot

Sheffield

S1 4PQ

E-mail: millennium.volunteers@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Web site: http://www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk

 

National Association of Volunteer Bureaux, NAVB

New Oxford House

16 Waterloo Street

Birmingham B2 5UG

Tel: +44 121 633 4555

Fax: +44 121 633 4043

E-mail: info@navb.org.uk

Web site: http://www.navb.org.uk

 

National association of voluntary service managers

Lynda Leicester

Manager Voluntary Services & Income Generation

Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road

Wythenshawe

MANCHESTER M23 9LT

Tel: 0161 291 2872

Fax: 0161 291 2646

E-mail: lynda.leicester@smuht.nwest.nhs.uk

Web site: http://www.navsm.org.uk

 

National Council for Voluntary Organsiation, NCVO

Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street

London N1 9RL

Tel: +44 20 7713 6161

Fax: +44 20 7713 6300

E-mail: ncvo@ncvo-vol.org.uk

Web site: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

 

National Council for Voluntary Youth Services

2 Plough Yard

Shoreditch High Street

London EC2A 3LP

Tel: 020 7422 8630

Fax: 020 7422 8631

E-mail: mail@ncvys.org.uk

Web site : http://www.ncvys.org.uk

 

North West Network

Room 2715 Sunley Tower

Picadilly Plaza

Manchester M1 4BD

Tel.: + 44 161 236 6493

Fax: + 44 161 228 6137

E-mail: info@nwnetwork.org.uk

Web site: http://www.nwnetwork.org.uk

 

Time Bank UK

The Mezzanine, Elizabeth House

39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ

Tel.: +44 20 7401 5420

Fax: +44 20 7401 5421

E-mail: f.hammond@timebank.org.uk

Web site: http://www.timebank.org.uk

 

Voluntary Arts Network

PO Box 200, Cardiff, CF5 1YH

Tel: 02920 395 395

Fax: 02920 397 397

E-mail: info@voluntaryarts.org

Web site: http://www.voluntaryarts.org

 

Scotland :

 

Volunteer Development Scotland

Stirling Enterprise Park

Stirling FK7 7RP

Tel: +44 1786 479593

Fax: +44 1786 449285

E-mail: information@vds.org.uk

Web site: http://www.vds.org.uk

 

Volunteer Centre Network, Scotland

E-mail: info.volunteerscotland@vds.org.uk

Web site: http://www.volunteerscotland.org.uk

 

Workwithus.org (Scotland)

Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place

Edinburgh, EH3 6BB

Tel: +44 0131 556 3882

Fax: +44 0131 556 0279

E-mail : portal@scvo.org.uk

Web site: http://www.workwithus.org

 

Wales:

 

Wales Council for Voluntary Action

Website : http://www.wcva.org.uk

 

Volunteering Wales

Web site: http://www.volunteering-wales.net

 

Northern Ireland :

 

Volunteer Development Agency, Northern Ireland

4th Floor

58 Howard Street

Belfast BT1 6PG

Tel: +44 28 90236100

Fax: +44 28 90237570

E-mail: info@volunteering-ni.org

Web site: http://www.volunteering-ni.org

 

Voluntary service bureau

34 Shaftesbury Square

Belfast

BT2 7DB

Tel.: +44 28 90200850

Fax: +44 28 90200860

E-mail: info@vsb.org.uk

Web site: http://www.vsb.org.uk/linksfs.htm