2.2 Administration and governance of youth volunteering
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Governance
Main actors
The Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda (Ministerio de Derechos Sociales y Agenda 2030) is responsible for the government and promotion of volunteering on a state scale. Several platforms have been designed in order to supply information and to serve as guidance for volunteering associations as well as for volunteers themselves.
General distribution of responsibilities
Within the Ministry the superior body competent for the “Promotion of social services and support of the cooperation with the non-governmental organisations, support of social volunteering, in the scope of competences constitutionally assigned to the State” is the Secretary of State for Social Rights (Secretaría de Estado de Derechos Sociales). At the same time, within the structure of the Directorate-General of Adolescents and Childhood Rights, Directorate- General of Familiar Diversity and Social Rights is the governing body assuming direct management of these policies.
In a regional autonomic level 8 of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain use their own official volunteering platforms.
Although there are other non-governmental actors within the different volunteering fields in Spain with different visions and aims, there are observatories, platforms and networks from the intervening actors. Some examples of volunteering organisations are the following:
- Spanish Volunteering Platform (Plataforma del Voluntariado de España).
- European Antipoverty Network (EAPN España).
- Third Sector Observatory (Observatorio del Tercer Sector).
- Make it Happen Foundation (Fundación HAZLOPOSIBLE).
- Platform of the NGO of Social Action (Plataforma de ONG de Acción Social).
- Institute for the Quality of the NGOs (Instituto para la calidad de las ONG).
Cooperation
Although there is no specific body or programme where positive experiences are exchanged at cross-border level, the European Solidarity Corps has among its activities so-called "networking activities", which are national or transnational activities aimed at strengthening the capacities of the participating organisations with the objective of offering quality projects to an increasing number of participants.
These activities contribute to the exchange of experiences and reinforce a sense of belonging among the young participants and the organisations, increasing the impact of the European Solidarity Corps at all levels.
Within the borders of Spain, the First National Fair of Good Practices and Project Tools of the European Solidarity Corps was held from 14 to 17 June 2022.
The aim of the fair is to exchange aspects of individual and team volunteering projects concerning good practices and tools, such as:
- Selection of volunteers
- Preparation of the volunteer prior to departure
- Financial management of the project
- Accompaniment in the learning process of the volunteer and Youthpass.
- Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.
- Visibility of the project.
- Conflict prevention and resolution in ESC projects.
- Integration and adaptation of volunteers in the local community.
The second fair will take place between 4 and 7 July 2023.
Cross-sectoral cooperation
According to the Law 45/2015 an Interministerial Commission of Volunteering is foresee with the aim to coordinate the ministries with competences in volunteering.
Also at a national level, the existence of the State Council of Non-Governmental Organizations for Social Action (Consejo Estatal de Organizaciones no Gubernamentales de Acción Social) is worth mentioning. It is an advisory Body, attached to the General Government Administration through the Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, which becomes a meeting point for dialogue and participation in the association movement concerning the elaboration of social policies. The Royal Decree 235/2005 establishes its nature, goals, composition and functioning. It enables also the cooperation and coordination with the different bodies of the General Government Administration, European Commission and other countries.
Within the youth volunteering scope, it is the task of the Youth Institute (Instituto de la Juventud) to encourage youth associationism, and by so doing to support youth volunteering. The cross- sectorial cooperation between the governmental bodies is made through the participation of the Youth Institute in the Interministerial Commission for Youth (Comisión Interministerial para al Juventud).