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1. Information providers

2. Key initiatives

Information providers

As part of its coordinating role the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport subsidizes the volunteers umbrella organization NOV. Dutch Voluntary Organization (Vereniging Nederlandse Organisaties Vrijwilligerswerk) is a civil organization that advocates for voluntary work in the Netherlands and is discussion partner in politics and with the government. It gives a platform to organizations of any kind that work with volunteers. Both online through their website, on- and offline events and advice. 

NOV aims to raise awareness about voluntary work and have a special focus on youth voluntary work with their campaigns. They do this for example, by supporting municipalities to make optimum use of local possibilities in voluntary work. On their website page about youth policy and voluntary work NOV promotes the support of municipalities and youth organizations to help each other -even with limited resources- to give children the chance to grow and develop. NOV puts a special emphasis on the place where young people grow up for their development and it  recognizes the wish of municipalities to create and maintain a positive living environment, with optimum developing opportunities and plenty activities. According to NOV, this will help children to become stable young people with a sense of responsibility.

NOV also provides municipalities with a set of action points. In this context, voluntary work for youth must:

• be well thought-out and have a prominent position in youth policy;
• be available for all children and young people;
• connect youth with other target groups;
• give space, and result in fewer rules;
• have arrangements for minimum wage earners, also for youth work;
• be well insured.

Scouting Netherlands is the largest youth organization in the Netherlands with over 100.000 members. Their website offers information for children and youth about positive aspects of volunteering. They also have a scouting academy, where the voluntary group leaders can learn to guide children and youth in their development, while engaging in scouting activities. The contribution of Scouting Netherlands can be summarised in some facts and figures:

• 1 in 5 children in the Netherlands is or has been a member of Scouting.
• There are over 1000 Scouting groups in the Netherlands.
• One or more Scouting groups are active in 80% of all communities.
• 75% of volunteers in Scouting Netherlands is younger than 25 and spends an average of 8 hours a week on Scouting.
• 25% of volunteers in Scouting Netherlands is also a volunteer in another organization.

On a local level, central volunteer points (vrijwilligerscentrale's) provide information about volunteering and specific projects that have open positions for volunteers. The website of the Amsterdam central volunteer point has a page for young people. In Utrecht, the central volunteer point has a website specifically for young people called 'young for Utrecht' (jong voar Utrecht). The Union of Volunteers Rotterdam has a programme for young people called Heros of Rotterdam (Rotterdamse Helden). It also provides information and vacancies but also offers personal advice. Heros of Rotterdam works with multiple social media, such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Key initiatives

The promotion of the national programme for volunteering by young people, Social Service Time (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd, MDT) is the largest initiative to provide information about volunteering opportunities for young people in the Netherlands. The website Join MDT (Doe mee met MDT) is hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Young people can fill in a short survey to find out what social service time projects would fit their interest and ambitions. Young people also share their experiences with MDT projects. Finally, information about Social Service Time is provided. 

National and local Dutch organizations want to attract young people to work as volunteers within their organization. Some examples:

• The Orange Fund is offers financial support of social initiatives and organizes the annual 'NL does days' (NL Doet). They also have a website where information is shared about engaging young people in voluntary work in general, but also specifically on the national volunteering day.
• The Dutch Red Cross Rode Kruis has a programme to attract children to volunteer through school campaigns. On their website they have a section for schools and “What can you do?
• The local project ‘Hart voor Zwolle’ is a foundation in the municipality of Zwolle that connects young volunteers to vulnerable citizens.