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1. National Programme for Youth Volunteering

2. Funding

3. Characteristics of youth volunteering

4. Support to young volunteers

5. Quality Assurance (QA)

6. Target groups

National Programme for Youth Volunteering

Following the publication of general legislation and regulations on volunteering in Portugal, in 1998 and 1999, volunteering was defined as actions of social and community interest carried out selflessly by individuals within non-profit projects, programmes, and other forms of intervention serving individuals, families, and the community. During the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, the Portuguese Institute for Youth launched the National System for Youth Volunteering.

The “Youth Volunteering” concept used by the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth since the beginning of the 2000s encompasses different forms of intervention with a common denominator, the public they address (young people).

The demonstration of interest in volunteering projects by youth population, as well as the awareness and social recognition of the importance of volunteering as a non-formal education instrument, contributed to the Portuguese Institute for Youth rethinking its intervention in this area.

From 2003 to 2013, the Portuguese Institute of Youth/Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth promoted, in partnership with other entities, simultaneously with the management of the National System for Youth Volunteering, the development of volunteering projects with a special focus on the quality of training of young volunteers, the designing and development of tasks, the framing of volunteers in the task, aiming at the constant application of the principles that guide volunteering (namely complementarity, gratuity and responsibility).

From event volunteering (Euro 2004, UEFA 2005, Centenary of the Republic, among others) to outreach and continuity volunteering (Youth Solidarity, Youth Volunteering for Nature and Forests, Messages and Company, among others), the projects involved thousands of young people as volunteers and as volunteer coordinators (participative management – by young people for young people).

In 2011, during the European Year for Volunteering, in a study carried out for the National Council for the Promotion of Volunteering, by “Proact – Research and Technical Support Unit for Local Development, Valorisation of the Environment and the Fight against Social Exclusion”, it is noted that the lack of work and professional opportunities after completion of studies has “pushed (often the appropriate term) many young people into volunteering work, as a form of occupation and to feel useful, but also as complementary learning (linked to action) and/or (eventually) a launch pad into the labour market. (…) youth unemployment has also contributed to reinforcing voluntary action in recent years, which, being triggered by adverse and (in principle) negative reasons for young people, cannot be ignored and should be considered in reflection, measures and support for volunteering work. Compared to previous studies, there has been a more than proportional increase among the youngest volunteers (the average age has decreased), although all age groups have increased in general, which is compatible with the factors analysed above.

In Portugal, three national youth volunteering programmes are promoted and implemented: the "Now Us" programme, the "Youth Volunteering for Nature and Forests" programme, and the "International Work Camps" programme.

For over more than a decade, efforts in youth volunteering, alongside new motivations, interests, and the socio-economic situation of young people, as well as European practices promoting volunteering for skills acquisition and reducing mobility barriers for young volunteers, prompted the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth to create and regulate the "Now Us" programme.

Now Us Programme

The "Now Us" programme, governed by Ordinance no. 242/2013, of 2 August, aims to support entities that promote youth volunteering actions for skills acquisition. Its objectives include stimulating and supporting youth volunteering in socially relevant areas, developing educational processes for volunteers, disseminating youth volunteering nationwide, and creating a register of entities promoting youth volunteering. The programme focuses on areas such as the environment, health, culture, sports, and social solidarity.

The launch of the "Now Us" IT platform has enhanced the continuity and quality of volunteering actions, encouraging greater youth participation. While maintaining the core concept of selfless social and community actions, the programme emphasises the quality and promotion of youth volunteering projects, benefiting both the community and the personal development of young volunteers.

The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth implements initiatives under the "Now Us" programme, including "Generation Z", "Dating With Fair Play, and "Surfing the Internet Safely”.

The "Generation Z" programme, managed by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, is a long-term youth volunteering initiative for private, non-profit organisations, and young people aged 16 to 30. Its objectives are to expand volunteering within the "Now Us" programme, value youth-led interventions, create synergies with civil society and public entities, contribute to effective community intervention, enhance the quality of volunteering activities and skills acquisition, and recognise non-formal education. The intervention areas include human rights, civic participation, bullying prevention, sports, cultural exchange, intergenerational solidarity, employment and entrepreneurship, youth tourism, social inclusion (especially for NEETs - not in employment, education, or training), combating extremist and violent behaviour, youth health, environment, and youth associations.

The long-term action "Dating With Fair Play," part of the "Now Us" programme, mobilises young people to prevent dating violence through peer education across all five regions. Volunteers visit schools, municipalities, and third sector entities, accompanied by a responsible person. Teams of two volunteers visit three days a month during the school term. The action aims to promote equality, prevent victimisation and gender-based violence, combat dating violence, raise awareness of gender equality, eliminate stereotypes, and promote participatory citizenship. It targets young people aged 16 to 30, including those in basic (7^th-9^th grade), secondary and university education, and vocational training. Activities include awareness/training sessions for volunteers on conflict management, human rights, youth rights, gender equality/inequality, various forms of violence, prevention of dating violence, and project management. Volunteers conduct workshops to raise awareness of equality and diversity, and change violent behaviour in dating, culminating in a project encouraging active citizenship. Volunteers receive training, a participation certificate, personal accidents and liability insurance, and expenses reimbursement.

The "Surfing the Internet Safely" programme targets young people aged 18 to 30 with knowledge on new information technologies. It promotes responsible internet use through information sessions and awareness activities for children, young people, parents/educators, and citizens. Beneficiaries must have ICT knowledge, good communication skills, interpersonal ease, a pedagogical skills certificate (preferential), and be enrolled in the "Now Us" platform. Previous participation in related events is preferred. The programme includes 60-minute information sessions on topics like fake news, cyberbullying, the Internet of Things, hate speech, online addiction, data protection, and social networks. Sessions involve a presentation, Q&A, an evaluation questionnaire, and a participation certificate. They are intended for children and young people (6 to 25 years old) and/or people over 60 years old. Volunteers receive specific training through online resources and in-person or Skype sessions. Those working over 3 hours and 30 minutes receive 12 euros/day, while those working less receive 6 euros/half a day. Volunteers are entitled to personal accidents and liability insurance and a participation certificate. 

In 2025, there has been a significant change in the “Navega(s) em Segurança” youth volunteering scheme, which now has two types of support.

In this new model, the youth volunteering scheme has two types of support:

• Modality 1: subsidised projects organised by third parties.

• Modality 2: direct project promotion.

The "Youth Volunteering for Nature and Forests" programme, promoted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, focuses on nature protection, forest preservation, and ecosystem conservation. It raises public awareness, prevents forest fires and other environmental disasters, and monitors and restores affected areas. The programme's objectives include inventorying and monitoring at-risk animal and plant species, maintaining forest paths and water access points, recovering footpaths, cleaning and maintaining leisure parks, conducting mobile and fixed surveillance, inventorying areas needing cleaning, providing logistical support for fire prevention and detection centres, monitoring burnt forest areas, reforestation, controlling invasive species, and other related activities. Beneficiaries are Portuguese residents aged 18 to 30 with good repute. Eligible entities include organisations in the National Register of Non-Governmental Environmental Organisations, organisations in the Register of Forest Producers, youth associations in the National Register of Youth Associations, municipal and parish councils, and other entities with relevant objectives, as determined by the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth.

Funding

The funding of the several activities, programmes, projects and initiatives is determined annually by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, in accordance with the State Budget Law. Since 2013, there is a dedicated amount in the annual budget of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth for youth expenditure.

The programme “Youth Volunteering for Nature and Forests” was created through Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 166/2017, of 2 November, and is managed by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth.

In 2024, the budget available to manage the “Youth Volunteering for Nature and Forests” programme was 899,000.00 euros, and the amount spent was 847,682.40 euros. For 2025, the budget available is 1,000,000.00 euros.

The long-term action “Generation Z”, integrated in the “Now Us” programme, promoted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, aims to foster the practice of youth volunteering in different areas of intervention. Through this long-term action, the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth can support a diverse set of activities, with a significant budget.

In 2024, the budget available to manage the “Generation Z” programme was 216,616.00 euros, and the amount spent was 210,625.00 euros. 

For 2025, the budget available is 100,000.00 euros.

European Funding

The youth volunteering programme “Naveg@s em Segurança”, which is promoted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, has European funding. For 2025, the modality of subsidy to external entities is set at 60,000 euros (IPDJ budget), while the modality of direct promotion of projects is allocated 15,000 euros (community funding).

Also, the Erasmus+ funds are available for youth volunteering and are managed by the Erasmus+ Youth/Sports and European Solidarity Corps National Agency (see chapter 9.6).

Characteristics of youth volunteering

The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth views youth volunteering as a vital tool for the personal, social, and educational development of young people, reflecting their willingness to act selflessly for the benefit of the community. Volunteering activities are recognised and certified as valuable for personal and curricular enrichment.

Most participants in the voluntary programmes promoted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth are aged 14 to 30, showing the most interest and dynamism in these initiatives.

Support to young volunteers

The Portuguese legal framework for Volunteering (Law no. 71/98, of 3 November) provides for the reimbursement of volunteers.

According to the law, the volunteer must “be reimbursed of urgent and duly justified amounts expensed in the exercise of an activity programmed by the promoter and up to a maximum amount established by that entity”. The same law also establishes the need for the entities to prepare their volunteers for the tasks they will be asked to perform (normally in the form of training).

Example: The young citizen is entitled to reimbursement for the expenses made until they reach the destination where the tasks will be developed (e.g., bus ticket). Depending on the duration of the task, the volunteer may be entitled to a meal.

According to the volunteering programme in which young people participate, they are entitled to a refund ranging on average from 8 to 10 euros/day.

Before starting tasks, volunteers acquire training given by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth on their rights and duties, and the promoting entity provides specific training on each task to be developed. Volunteers are entitled to a participation certificate, an acquired skills recognition certificate (Youth Pass), and personal accidents and liability insurance.

The public financial support that the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth provides to youth organisations is also a way of supporting young volunteers who are engaged in YO, exercising their citizenship at local, regional and national level, in various fields of action (political activism, environment, solidarity, education, etc).

In 2024, the "Agora Nós" programme, had 16 non-subsidised actions involving 674 participants, and 26 actions promoted by IPDJ with 178 participants. The "Navegas em Segurança" initiative witnessed the involvement of 45 participants, while the "Namorar com Fair Play" (Modality 1) had 24 participants. The "Geração Z" programme included 148 projects with 1,075 participants, and the "Namorar com Fair Play" (Modality 2) involved 47 projects with 236 participants.

The "Voluntariado Jovem para a Natureza e Florestas" programme achieved the highest engagement, with 302 projects and 3,834 participants. This programme had a budget of 1,000,000 euros, with an execution amount of 848,682 euros.

Quality Assurance

Quality assurance in youth volunteering at national level in Portugal is a key element of public policy, aiming to ensure that volunteering experiences are meaningful, inclusive, safe and beneficial for both young volunteers and host organisations. From an institutional perspective, quality assurance is closely linked to the promotion of ethical standards, learning outcomes and social impact in youth volunteering activities.

The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) plays a central role in promoting quality assurance through regulatory frameworks, programme guidelines and monitoring procedures applicable to national youth volunteering schemes. These frameworks define objectives, eligibility criteria, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and principles such as voluntary participation, non‑discrimination, accessibility and protection of young people.

Quality assurance mechanisms are embedded throughout the volunteering cycle. Organisations involved in youth volunteering are required to comply with established standards regarding project design, supervision, mentoring and support for volunteers. Reporting and monitoring requirements enable IPDJ to assess implementation, ensure compliance with programme rules and evaluate outcomes, including the skills and competences developed by young volunteers.

Training and capacity‑building are also essential components of quality assurance. IPDJ supports training initiatives for coordinators, youth workers and volunteers, with a focus on non‑formal learning, inclusion, safeguarding and recognition of learning outcomes. These measures contribute to improving the overall quality and consistency of volunteering experiences across different contexts and territories.

In addition, quality assurance in youth volunteering is reinforced through the promotion of recognition tools and evaluation practices that value the learning dimension of volunteering. Feedback from young volunteers and host organisations is encouraged and used to inform continuous improvement of programmes and policies.

Through these combined approaches, quality assurance in youth volunteering at national level seeks to ensure that volunteering remains a structured, inclusive and high‑quality opportunity for young people in Portugal, contributing to their personal development, social engagement and active citizenship.

Target Groups

Depending on the youth volunteering actions, volunteers can be between 14 and 30 years old. Before starting tasks, volunteers acquire training given by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth on their rights and duties, and the promoting entity provides specific training on each task to be developed. Volunteers are entitled to a participation certificate, an acquired skills recognition certificate, and personal accidents and liability insurance.

In the young volunteer’s selection process, the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth takes into account the following criteria: geographical origin (rural areas, hinterland, industrial or coastal areas), education level, employment status, gender, and special needs. The aim of this process is for young people at risk of exclusion to have the same opportunities as other young people.

Depending on the youth volunteering actions, volunteers can be between 14 and 30 years old. Before starting tasks, volunteers acquire training given by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth on their rights and duties, and the promoting entity provides specific training on each task to be developed. Volunteers are entitled to a participation certificate, an acquired skills recognition certificate, and personal accidents and liability insurance.

In the young volunteers selection process, the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth takes into account the following criteria: geographical origin (rural areas, hinterland, industrial or coastal areas), education level, employment status, gender and special needs. The aim of this process is for young people at risk of exclusion to have the same opportunities as other young people.