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Volunteering Strategy
ANNEX A Definition of volunteering
1. The definition of volunteering used for the strategy is:
"Volunteering is the giving of time and energy through a third party, which can bring measurable benefits to the volunteer, individual beneficiaries, groups and organisations, communities, environment and society at large. It is a choice undertaken of one's own free will, and is not motivated primarily for financial gain or for a wage or salary."
2. Throughout the consultation period the term "volunteering" was used, rather than "volunteering and community action". The term "community action" is open to different interpretations and therefore runs the risk of creating confusion. The use of the term "volunteering" has been endorsed by stakeholders through the consultation process.
3. Volunteering can be either formal or informal. Formal volunteering refers to activities organised through some sort of organisation, be it a small community group consisting entirely of volunteers, or through major organisations such as Health Trusts or national voluntary organisations. Informal volunteering, which can be one component of social capital, refers to a wide range of different kinds of mutual help and co-operation between individuals within communities, for example babysitting for a friend or checking on an elderly neighbour. While research indicates that formal volunteering impacts positively on informal volunteering, there is not yet a clear consensus on the extent of its influence in relation to other factors, or how this process occurs. As such this Strategy focuses on formal or organised volunteering. It will however be necessary to monitor developments in the field of informal volunteering during the lifetime of the strategy and make links where appropriate.
4. The Strategy seeks to promote volunteering as an activity distinct from paid work. In some cases volunteers will work alongside other volunteers towards a stated aim. Elsewhere volunteers will work alongside paid staff, complementing and adding value to the work done by paid staff. Generally speaking there has to be a distinction between the roles of volunteers and those of paid staff. It is important to maintain this distinction in order to avoid volunteering being seen as a substitute for paid staff.
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