Better quality in volunteer work

The Municipality of The Hague would like the quality of volunteer work in the city to improve. Volunteers will receive more and better support and subsidy rules will be simplified.

The memorandum entitled ‘Ruimte voor vrijwilligers’ (Room for volunteers) by Deputy Mayor Bert van Alphen (Public Health, Welfare and Equal Opportunity) was approved by The Hague Municipal Executive at the end of September 2009.

The percentage of the population actively doing volunteer work in The Hague has hovered for a number of years at around 18%, somewhat less than the national average. Participation is low amongst young people (15%) and the first generation of people not born in The Hague (13%).

Talks with volunteers, organisations and institutes show that there is a great need for more volunteers. However, there is primarily a need for more support and better guidance for volunteers. Deputy Mayor Van Alphen: ‘Volunteers are essential for The Hague and the social coherence in the city. That’s why they not only deserve more respect and appreciation, but they should also get professional counselling. They have a right to this.’

Health care volunteers

Extra attention will go in the coming years to health care volunteers who help take care of the chronically ill, elderly or handicapped. This group of volunteers often works in difficult situations and with difficult target groups. They will receive extra support in the coming years.

Action points

The following plans have been made to improve the quality of volunteer work in the city:

• Extra training courses will be provided for health care volunteers.
• Health care volunteers will be paired up with buddies.
• Only programs approved with the quality mark “Vrijwillige inzet; goed geregeld” will be eligible for a subsidy as of 2010.
• Health care volunteers qualify for reimbursement of expenses.
• A special information exchange will be created for volunteers.
• Young people will be introduced to volunteer work in the primary schools.
• Handicapped people will have more opportunities to do volunteer work.
• Immigrants will be included more in volunteer work.

The Municipality of The Hague works closely together with HOF, Promotie Haags Vrijwilligerswerk, Look for more information at www.hofnet.nl.