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The European Year of Voluntary Activities

On 27 November 2009 culture ministers from across Europe officially nominated 2011 as the ‘European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship’ (EYV11).

The year is intended to support the efforts of national, local and regional authorities and the third sector across Europe to create the conditions conducive to volunteering. Four key objectives have been identified for the year:

1. Creating an enabling environment for volunteering
2. Empowering volunteer involving organisations to improve the quality of voluntary activities
3. Rewarding and recognising voluntary activities, and
4. Raising awareness about the value and importance of volunteering.

The year will consist of a range of centrally coordinated activities linked to the key objectives outlined above. This will support programmes of activity within each European member state.

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS), which will oversee implementation of the year in England, is keen to maximise the involvement of volunteer involving organisations from across the whole of sector. As well as contacting colleagues across Government, the OTS has begun to have conversations with representatives from volunteer involving organisations and will be looking to extend this consultation shortly.