Maurizio Maggioni Volunteering Services Centre “Volontarimini” Rimini, Italy

Volunteering in Italy: The legal framework

Recent laws have regulated all areas of the voluntary sector: NGOs [international cooperation] Prganised volunteering (Law no 266 in 1991) Social co-operatives Associations for promoting social issues Other organisations

First organic reform in 2000 (Law 328): Recognises personal rights Identifies bodies responsible for assistance Integrates services Values third sector Introduces forward planning Maps out future action for social integration and support

Legal status of volunteers regulated by Law n. 266 in 1991, which: Recognises social value and function of volunteering Views it as participation, solidarity and pluralism Promotes its development Safeguards its autonomy

The Italian term “volontariato” (volunteering): Implies initiatives of help or solidarity by a group Defining “solidarity”: Action at community level, with close ties between parties Parties share values and defining behaviour

Hence “volontariato” (volunteering) can be defined as: Form of community action Aims to: Provide altruistic and solidal services Promote rights Develop active citizenship

Voluntary organisations Are founded directly by those involved Do not give monetary remuneration Promote rights Provide services and activities with social significance Aimed at non-members or society at large

Volunteers and Italian society

Number of volunteers: Not known for certain Rough estimate: Differences between regions: North 31,3% South 15,2% Islands 8%

Volunteers’ educational background: Majority have secondary school qualification Females have higher qualifications than males Volunteers’ time: 57.3% of volunteers do their volunteering on a regular basis, for 5 hrs/wk.

Sectors with most volunteering: Health Social services Culture and leisure

Volunteering organisations

Types of volunteering organisations: Those defined by Law 266/913 But also: NGOs, Social cooperatives Associations for promoting social issues Foundations Other

At government level: Nationally, volunteering is overseen by the Ministry for Work and Social Policy There is also a National Monitoring Body for Volunteering At local level, Regional government has influence Technical support is provided by network of service centres

Volunteering Service Centres: Instituted by Law 266 in 1991 Provide free services to associations of volunteers Aim to support and qualify volunteering initiatives

How is this done? Grow culture of solidarity with new initiatives Promote initiatives by volunteers Offer consultancy, assistance by qualified staff Help volunteers to plan new projects Train members of volunteering organisations Dispense news and information about volunteering activities

Key national programmes promoting volunteering, active citizenship and civic participation: Annual directives of Ministry of Work and Social Policy (as per Law n. 266 in 1991), targeted at all weak groups including young. Civilian service (ages 18-28) Youth in Action programme (15-28), in and beyond the EU.

The 0.5% scheme (“cinque per mille”): Expanded in 2005 Taxpayers can choose to give 0.5% of their taxes to non-profit or research organisations No cost to taxpayer Expansion of scheme is experimental

The 0.5 scheme is not: A state fund to guarantee a particular activity but rather: An opportunity for citizens to devolve a small part of their taxes to private initiatives of public significance Because the state recognises the importance of promoting social solidarity

Economic and social value

Existing data shows economic and social importance of volunteering, as defined by Law 266 in 1991: c. 3.2 million hours of work per week Equivalent to weekly workload of full- time employees

Research is being done into the social and economic value and impact of volunteering: Joint project by Volunteering Services Centres and Johns Hopkins University: to measure volunteering activities. Several Italian bodies collaborating to measure volunteering activities in healthcare.

In Italy, Volunteering is considered (especially for the young): A formative experience A type of active citizenship A contribution to social cohesion

Reasons why people volunteer

According to FEO – FIVOL: Be altruistic Participate actively in society Grow as a person Socialise Differences between age groups: Over 60s: 63.2% motivated by altruism Under 29s: 71.5% motivated by personal growth

Challenges

Anticipate changes in society, and so anticipate solutions to changing social needs “Volunteering must invent more human things than the most human which have already been invented” (Luciano Tavazza)

How? The more complex the needs, the more important it is to operate in networks With drastically diminishing resources, reflection is necessary on how to strengthen vounteering even in its smallest manifestations

Unique merits

Volunteering in Italy has innovated in: Promotion of rights Social inclusion and integration For Disabled people Foreigners Mentally ill people Patological addicts Families