"<< Background >>»Stop loneliness, Start volunteering« was developed as a possible solution to different types of distress among youth, occurring as a consequence of isolation and loneliness due to COVID-19 restrictions. Based on research and our own observation volunteering offers at least a partial solution to the problem. The consortium is active in the areas of inclusive volunteering, youth volunteering and has experience with youth with fewer opportunities. The pandemic brought restrictive measures which exposed a lot of people to considerable amounts of stress whereas youth carried the biggest load, being deprived of normal schooling and social life and dealing with illness and deaths of family members. As a society, we expected solidarity and sacrifice from them for the benefit of vulnerable groups, disregarding the possible negative effect on them. It was especially difficult on young people that have already lived in poor conditions before the pandemic.There have been different studies regarding the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on youth. In Slovenia the Assessment of the needs for psychosocial support in the second wave of COVID-19 by the Association of Psychologists of Slovenia highlighted the greatest hardships among students: fear of losing their freedom, fear of an uncertain future, and hardship of isolation. They noticed signs of depression and anxiety, development of a negative attitude towards themselves, chronic fatigue; they also report lack of energy, lack of interest and joy, sleep problems, feelings of depression and despair. Volunteering was highlighted as a source of help and support (10% of surveyed students are volunteers, 24.4% understand it as a source of relief from distress; http://www.dps.si/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Psychosocial-support-needs-assessment.pdf). Serious consequences are also observed in Croatia: research has shown that every 10th child or adolescent has symptoms of anxiety or depression that exceed the expected level. 15% have symptoms of post-traumatic stress, 74% face fear of failure, 60% anxiety and almost half of the respondents mentioned feelings of sadness and emptiness and concern for the safety of their family members. Based on the study of the EP (May 2021), ''Education and youth in post-COVID-19 Europe – crisis effects and policy recommendations'' the COVID-19 crisis ''sparked a bigger interest in ideas and methods of non-formal knowledge that encourage and help well being and ways of dealing with distress''. European Youth Forum conducted a global research of COVID-19 crisis and it's impact on the youth, focusing on employment, education, their rights and well-being. In the report ''Youth and Covid-19: effects on employment, education, rights and well-being'' they established that the well-being of youth has severly diminished. All the partner organizations actively monitor youth iniciatives and their responses to stressors in the environment, as well the inability of volunteering organizations to attract youth, to give them support and a more visible role in the community. In a consultation for high schools in Slovenia (October 2021) the students emphasized they want to take on more responsible volunteering tasks under mentorship, acquire more knowledge and start their own projects. Activation, volunteer support, and mentoring can restore the importance of the young in the society, show them they are valuable members of society, and that we as a society acknowlede their distress and solidarity. Thus we can help diminish some of the distress before the damage becomes irreparable.Sources: http://www.dps.si/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Ocena-potreb-po-psihosocialni-podpori.pdf; https://faktograf.hr/2021/05/11/mentalno-zdravlje-u-doba-pandemije/; https://www.poliklinika-djeca.hr/istrazivanja/godinu-dana-poslije-rezultati-probira-mentalnog-zdravlja-djece-u-zagrebu/; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/690872/IPOL_STU(2021)690872_EN.pdf.<< Objectives >>The aim of the project is to achieve the following goals: 1. Greater awareness of the importance of volunteering in preventing the social isolation of young people and empowering youth organizations and organizations involving young volunteers. 2. Identify, collect, select and transfer innovative and effective practices, including digital volunteering, which can encourage young people and especially young people with fewer opportunities, to volunteer. Transmission and dissemination of practice information throughout the EU; greater digital competence of organizations and volunteers. 3. Identification and awareness of the needs of young people in their involvement in volunteering activities and the need of volunteering amongst young people. Development of a methodology to prepare innovative volunteering programs and cooperation approaches, development of quality standards in the coordination and mentoring of young volunteers, which means greater motivation and satisfaction of young people and therefore less loneliness and isolation. 4. Enhanced role and empowered national and regional volunteering centers / networks for professional support to youth and other CSO in the preparation of new volunteering programs for young people and with them. 5. Better understanding of the role of volunteering as an opportunity for personal growth, development, gaining competencies, professional development and maintaining and expanding the social network among young people.More self-initiative and more active participation of young people in society by engaging in volunteering programs focused on their needs. 6. Advocacy of youth volunteering and volunteering support for young people at a local, national and European level. Raising awareness of the needs of young people and opportunities for volunteering to adopt policies that would attract the infrastructure to develop volunteering activities and strengthen the field of volunteering.<< Implementation >>The following activities will be implemented in the project: Stop loneliness, start volunteering: 1)Research of existing practices in partner as well as other European countries in the field of youth volunteering and combatting loneliness, isolation and social exclusion. The findings will be presented in the Research and Analysis of challenges and responses of volunteering organizations. 2)We will seek out best practices in the field of combatting loneliness through volunteering in the partner and other European countries, recognize potentials of innovative practices for transfer and encouragement in other domains. We will conduct interviews with volunteers, beneficiaries and representatives of volunteer organizations (volunteer mentors, managers), record and videotape personal interest stories of young volunteers and beneficiaries. The selected examples will be presented in the Best practices compendium, accompanied by a video featuring persona experience of volunteers.3)We will seek out and research current challenges and needs in combatting loneliness and youth volunteering. Using the world café method we will, in cooperation with several stakeholders (the young, youth mentors, youth leaders, decision-makers …) search for the future potential of youth involvement in volunteering and establishing a dialogue among various stakeholders. The findings will be presented in the on-line campaign The Voice of the Youth.4)We will delve into the role of volunteer centres and networks in combatting loneliness among the youth and research the potential for further actions to the benefit of young volunteers and other youth, especially the young with fewer opportunities. The result will be presented in the Guidelines for volunteer centres and networks. 5)We will build on quality of inclusion and mentorship to young volunteers, providing volunteer organizations with necessary skills for successful involvement of volunteers in combatting loneliness, isolation and exclusion of the youth. We will provide a theoretical framework and tools for quality work with young volunteers to volunteer and youth organizations. The results will be presented in the Guide for volunteer organizations. 6)The previously listed activities will serve as a basis for advocacy activities, resulting in the European framework for combatting loneliness, isolation and exclusion of the youth – policy paper, which will be sent to decision-makers and other key stakeholders on local, national, regional and EU levels. 7)Additionally, we will organize 6 partner meetings in all the partner countries and 4 multiplying events. We will present the results in an interactive and participatory fashion and establish new connections and communication among organizations working in the field. Simultaneously, all partner organizations will ensure dissemination and promotion of project results via their webpages, social media, information sharing within their usual activities (trainings, events, conferences, mailing lists).<< Results >>In the project ""Stop loneliness, start volunteering"" we plan the following results and products that will help us to better understand the needs of young people, the opportunities brought by volunteering and the development of this area at a local, national and European level:•Research and analysis of challenges and responses of volunteering organizations: in electronic form, in English and with translations of conclusions and summaries into national languages (Slovenian, Croatian, German and Danish);•Compedium of best practices: in electronic form in English and with translations of conclusions and summaries into national languages (Slovenian, Croatian and Danish);•Video ""Best practices"" with personal stories and experiences of volunteers, users, mentors, length 10-15 minutes, with English subtitles or in English and with subtitles in Slovenian, Croatian, German and Danish language•Online campaign titled ‘The Voice of Youth’ with summarization of the conclusions of world cafes: in electronic form, in English, Slovenian, Croatian, German and Danish.•Guidelines for volunteering centers and networks: in electronic form, in English and with translations of conclusions and summaries into national languages (Slovenian, Croatian, German and Danish);•European framework for combatting loneliness, isolation and exclusion of the youth – policy paper; in electronic form, in English, Slovenian, Croatian, German and Danish.•A handbook for volunteering organizations: in electronic form in English with translations in all partner languages in electronic and in printed form; the handbook will also contain key findings from the survey, world cafés and an extract of recommendations for decision makers.By disseminating the results and involving various stakeholders in the process, we want to increase the number of quality volunteering programs for young people with fewer opportunities facing exclusion, and volunteering programs that qualitatively involve young volunteers at local, national and European level. We want every young person to know the possibilities of volunteering activation and to have the opportunity to get involved in quality volunteering programs."

Background Many people are marginalised within society by disadvantage,minority background,lack of “modern” skills,of knowledge,awareness or means.Adults who want to volunteer with family members face a variety of obstacles identified in pre-project research as reasons to invest in a new way of community engagement-Family Volunteering- FV,an existing educational method for adults of all ages,that with some isolated exceptions has not been tested or adapted on a European level,but many of the needs it can successfully address are still stringent in our communities. The benefits of this type of volunteering are numerous both for the communities being served and for the involved volunteers.FV has the potential to tie people together in efforts to achieve common goals on a local,national and European level.It raises awareness to the local contexts and the current issues.It fosters tolerance,solidarity,understanding towards differences and respect of human rights.The volunteers are offered an attractive opportunity of spending quality time with their loved ones,while at the same time developing their skills.They learn and improve themselves while sharing their own skills and knowledge,and raising their self-esteem.They become part of the community even if in the past they were being marginalized.Objectives1.Increasing the capacity of adult education structures to design, implement and evaluate quality FV programs in their communities, in the 6 project countries2.Developing the managerial competences of at least 60 adult education professionals in the 6 partner countries in dealing with the specifics of FV projects and activities at high quality standards3.Improving supply, access and attractiveness for at least 180 adults to new and qualitative educational opportunities within FV as non-formal learning,with a view on developing competences and validating their learning4.Increasing the awareness of relevant stakeholders about the opportunities FV as an approach can bring to adult learning processes as well as community development and the key role of adult educators facilitating such processes5.Providing opportunity and adequate space for awareness and reflection on the effects of FV on the practice of European values and on the development of soft skills of adult learners6.Establishing a cohesive European network of organizations committed to and able to enhance the FV concept and practice as a viable tool for life-long learning and strengthened family tiesParticipants We will have 3 types of participants: -in local FV activities–adults,youth or other family members involved in volunteering activities (180),as well as adult educators (36-mostly volunteer coordinators and project leaders), -in local dissemination activities (185)-the future multipliers of FV approach and project results-in project mobilities (5 transnational project meetings)-the representatives of partner organizations, in charge of exploring FV concept and practices,creating IOs and delivering project results,as well as advocating for project discoveries and making connections with other initiativesActivitiesBesides the production of 5 Intellectual Outputs and the high quality project management activities,that will be undertaken by all partners under the coordination of the applicant,during the project we will also have a local piloting phase planning the testing of 18 concrete FV activities adapted to the local cultural context and profile of selected families of volunteers.The skills and informal learning will be documented and valorised.All the results will be disseminated by the partners in their day to day activity as well as during 6 multiplier events.All partners will contribute to the project monitoring, evaluation and communication. Results,impact,benefitsBy the project end:-36 adult education professionals will have a deep understanding of FV concept and its applications as well as the hand-on experience of implementing FV activities from A to Z-180 citizens will have experienced directly benefits and opportunities FV can bring for them and their families,developing,upgrading and validating their skills in the process-increased capacity for adult educators to professionally design and manage FV and become ambassadors of this new concept in their communities-the intellectual outputs developed will serve as resources for everyone interested in FV-partners will be able to further promote FV,develop FV opportunities and support others in creating their own FV activitiesFV stands to bring numerous benefits for individuals, regardless of age, social status, education level, etc, as well as for communities, no matter what their current needs and issues are. Through this project we will introduce FV as an effective, attractive, easily approachable education method in the European area and a new form of community engagement to be explored for its future potential to generate change,on individual and societal level

"The partner organisations DKolektiv from Croatia, Slovenian Philanthropy, Volunteer Centre and Self-help Denmark (FriSe), National Network for Civil Society from Germany, Volunteering Ireland and Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) have created a strategic partnership and merged their knowledge and experiences in order to explore the best practices and find solutions and innovations that reduce social exclusion among young people through volunteering. The main purpose of the project was to create strategic international cooperation on: improving practices of work with youth by measuring, testing and developing innovative models of youth volunteering as effective tools of inclusion; building new competences of organisations and experts who work with disadvnateged youth; affirming volunteering as a way of empowerment and tool of social inclusion; reinforcing links between practice and policy by creating new platforms for exchange of experience and know-how between organisations/experts in the field of youth volunteering and social inclusion. The success of social inclusion depends not only on the kind of volunteering activities on offer, but also on the kind of support and conditions that governments, volunteer development agencies and volunteer-involving organisations can provide. Therefore, the project also assists institutions and decision-makers to formulate policies and support programmes through comparable systematic data on the circumstances in which volunteering is useful for personal development, empowerment and inclusion of young people.During the “Making it Matter” project significant evidence was gathered in favour of inclusive programmes that support disadvantaged and marginalised youth to participate actively in volunteering in whatever way they can. Project enabled the creation of methods and indicators for impact measurement that will help volunteer involving organisations to understand the key benefits, and shape the most inclusive volunteer programmes.The partnership resulted with the following results and outputs that, in the long term, contributed to the improvement of social and organisational capacities for the development of high quality, innovative and community-oriented services that support the empowerment and inclusion of young people at risk of social exclusion through volunteering.IO1 Focus Research Report gives an overview of existing EU and national policies and practices that support the inclusion of disadvantaged youth through volunteering. The key findings and recommendations of the Report came out as a result of desk research of existing policies on an EU and national level, research implemented through 413 questionnaires of volunteer-involving organisations and interviews with 11 disadvantaged youth volunteers and 9 volunteer coordinators. The interviews were filmed and shaped in longer and shorter version of the promotional videos with testimonies of volunteer coordinators and volunteers on the impact of volunteering on their life and inclusion in the society.IO2 Manual on measuring the impact of volunteering on social inclusion designed as a simple, innovative tool, for regular monitoring and evaluation of impact of volunteering, evidence based, linking volunteer experience and its benefits with the impact on overall people’s well-being. The methodology was piloted within 11 organisations and 20 disadvantaged volunteers.IO3 Educational curriculum ""New pathway to social inclusion"" with tutor notes has been designed to ensure permanent support of capacity building of volunteer involving organisations to develop effective and well-managed inclusive volunteer programmes for disadvantaged youth. The design of the curriculum was followed by 3 implemented educations for over 50 participants. IO4 Policy Paper relies on the key findings of the Focus Research report and the Manual and offers set of recommendations at local, regional, national and EU level. It was communicated and disseminated to different stakeholders. 3 multiplier events through which the project results and outputs were presented and discussed as relevant for contributing to social inclusion gathered 129 participants from over 20 EU countries, among which were relevant researchers, practitioners, representatives of NGOs and representatives of European institutions who gained new knowledge and tools and were asked for greater support of volunteering as a tool of social inclusion of youth. The impact and sustainability of the project were achieved through improved infrastructure for development of volunteering as a tool for social inclusion; improved capacities of volunteer involving organisations and partner organisations for developing services and activities in line with the needs of disadvantaged youth; improved life quality of disadvantaged youth by their active engagement in the society through volunteering.The project contributed to the EU values of freedom, tolerance, respect of diversities."

<< Objectives >>The project aims to: 1) Encourage better understanding of cultural, social, political context of relations between youth engagement trough volunteering and EU values; 2) Support youth volunteering as a transformative force in strengthening EU values and resilience & sustainable communities; 3) Strengthen youth organisational capacities for more impactful youth volunteer engagement underpinning EU values 4) Unlock the potentials of national, transnational and EU cooperation on the issue.<< Implementation >>Focus groups and interviews with organisations and youth followed by EU Comparative Report on solidarity & EU values; national conversation saloons to develop specific volunteer engagement Feasibility Kit; Policy Recommendations for strengthening volunteer, democratic and value based engagement of youth; Guidebook for volunteer programmes that inspires and supports activism and youth leadership; Curriculum and trainings on youth volunteer engagement; promotion & dissemination events.<< Results >>Improved knowledge, skills and practices of volunteer involving youth organisations to provide greater support to youth in increasing their engagement in volunteering and solidarity actions towards strengthening EU values; Developed innovative and practical approach that encourages more synergy of EU values and youth volunteer engagement.; Developed common EU narrative for policy makers for creating enabling environment for youth engagement and volunteering in strengthening the EU values.

The importance of youth volunteering for social inclusion and active citizenship is evidenced in the EU (Volunteering in the European Union, GHK 2010). Furthermore, by participating in voluntary activities, young people acquire new knowledge, skills and competences, that support their personal development and employability. Thus conclude studies such as ‘Voluntary Action in 2018’ (PVE) and ‘Intergenerational volunteering and solidarity’ (Eurobarometer 2011), among others.The EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 encourages Member States to promote the participation of young people in voluntary activities and highlights the importance of promoting good practices. Most European, national and regional programmes to support youth volunteering include, as an objective, the promotion of good practices but they do not define what is a ‘good practice’ or establish objective criteria for their identification. This is the conclusion from the study carried out by the partners of this project, after reviewing youth volunteering support programmes in 15 countries.Youth volunteering remains one of the few sectors without European Quality Standards. The definition of such Standards would facilitate the identification, promotion and development of good practices in all relevant areas of young volunteering and would therefore significantly contribute to the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027.In this context, in order to respond to this European need, this project aims to define and disseminate across the EU the first European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering.The first project activity will be to carry out a consultation in all EU countries in order to identify the most commonly used quality standards in the youth volunteering sector in each country. Based on the consultation results, the first version of the European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering will be defined. Subsequently, in order to assess how the recently defined European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering are understood and accepted within the European youth voluntary sector, the project partners will carry out a transnational testing. In order to motivate the participation of a large number of voluntary organisations across the EU, the testing will be organised as an award or contest: European Youth Volunteering Award. The jury will apply, for the first time, the European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering to assess the submitted projects and select the winner. Once finished the transnational testing, and based on the feedback from the testers, the project partners will define the necessary improvements to be implemented on the European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering.The definition and dissemination across the EU of the first European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering will have a huge impact because:- it will contribute to improving the quality of the youth volunteering activities and therefore, the participation of young people in voluntary activities, promoting the EU civic life and youth initiative;- it will improve the capacities of people working in the youth field to develop quality activities;- it will quantitative and qualitative increase the offer of innovative resources for youth workers in the EU;- it will facilitate the selection, promotion and development of good practices in all relevant areas of youth volunteering;- it will contribute to the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027, particularly to the objective of promoting the participation of young people in voluntary activities and promoting good practices.This project will be developed and implemented by a transnational and transectorial partnership composed by voluntary organisation and quality experts from seven countries of the EU.