2. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [1] ▪▪▪
• Attention is given to the frameworks through which social inclusion is promoted and
the Lifelong Learning Programme is a ‘catalyst for structural change through support
to policy development, cooperation and mobility’… IVISOC aims to identify:
• the knowledge and skills that volunteers bring and the ‘added value’ that this
affords communities (at both local level and across the EU more broadly); with a
• further focus on the ‘3Rs’ – Recruitment, Retention and Recognition within the
volunteering sector… in order to help define project deliverables; and
• the collaborative development of a Volunteering framework and the consideration
of ‘good practice’ within the social care sector to facilitate [more] effective working
structures.
3. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [2] ▪▪▪
• Austerity is impacting upon quality of life for many EU citizens, particularly
‘marginalised’ groups. Cuts to disability allowances have been implemented across
the EU and cut-backs are disproportionately affecting women.
• In Cyprus, 71% of the working population are employed in the services sector and
has the lowest proportion of public health expenditure in the EU (at 4% of GDP);
• In Greece, while life expectancy has increased, Greece has the third lowest fertility
rate in the EU (1.3 children per female of child-bearing age);
• In Italy, the ‘old-age dependency ratio’ is predicted to reach 60% by 2050 – with only
Japan expected to exceed this;
• In Romania, the proportion of people at risk of poverty is 41% – and Romania has the
highest maternal mortality rate of the EU-27 (at 27 p/100,000); and
• In the UK, with rising living costs, poorer housing conditions and healthcare burdens
children are more likely than adults to live in low-income households.
4. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [3] ▪▪▪ http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/
• The interactive ‘tool’ Your Better Life Index constructs a ‘well-being’ comparison of
34 countries (based on 11 dimensions) from the people’s perspective.
• The Better Life Initiative (looks at the functioning of the economic system
alongside the experiences and living conditions of individuals).
5. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [4] ▪▪▪
• in the UK the ‘ethos’ of the coalition’s Big Society is challenged by the Charities Aid
Foundation following the Chancellor’s tax relief ‘cap’ on donors of large sums of
money;
• in Greece, the Catholic News Agency reports that Caritas is ‘working harder than
ever’ to help those (particularly immigrants) affected by the country’s financial
disintegration;
• in Italy, Berlusconi’s declaration that Italy’s ‘restaurants are full’ at a time when
food distribution centres battled to meet demand, reportedly caused a ‘national
uproar’;
• in Romania, the majority of people are 8 times poorer than in 2007, and UNICEF
intervention is reaching out to 400,000 ‘absent’ children to deliver an OECD
standard of education; and
• in Cyprus, a national campaign by school-children has succeeded in raising funds
for its Greek neighbour – one municipality alone sent 800 kg of beef to the Greek
homeless.
6. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [5] ▪▪▪
• ‘is it time for a new social contract between citizen and state which sets out the rights
and responsibilities of each?’ EUROPEAN SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)
• ‘what does the credit crunch mean for the third sector?’ THIRD SECTOR (2008)
• ‘how well is the concept of volunteering articulated and explained and how well
understood by those agencies that work with them?’ T. WALLACE (2009)
• ‘volunteering can raise awareness of, and a commitment to, combating existing
unequal power relations and deep-seated causes of poverty, injustice and
sustainable development’ P. DEVEREUX (2008)
• ‘focused on the needs of citizens, with citizens who are engaged in the development
of services and who receive services which are efficient, effective and innovative’
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT (2010)
• ‘development effectiveness needs to be measured not only by GDP per capita, but
also by the extent to which people’s choices have expanded and improved their
quality of life’ UNITED NATIONS (2010)
7. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [6] ▪▪▪
• IVISOC aspires to develop a framework that proposes a clear basis for
amendments to policy instruments, with dissemination of shared knowledge
and good practice at its core.
• Insight and intuition can be applied to extend a shared vision of connecting
people to the local community, reaching beyond the implementation of
guidelines and moving towards more proactive models of support and
promoting positive change.
• although organisations can differ in approach regarding the development of
volunteers, what is clear is that all organisations consulted want ‘the best’
for their volunteers…
• the main challenge, therefore, has to be ‘how do we assist organisations in
ensuring the best for their volunteers to enjoy the quality of life that they
deserve and (in turn) provide a better quality of life to others?’
8. 24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [7] ▪▪▪
• The question must be posed as to the extent to which initiatives that seek to
influence behaviour in a particular way can be construed as good practice…
• …this does not consider all national, social, cultural, political and economic
contexts – and while the term ‘good practice’ is regularly regularly cited, few
sources define what it means.
• This was explored in a 2006 Good Practice Framework Workshop
concerned with e-Participation, and referred to a slogan ‘No Citizen Left
Behind’ that was prominent in a Declaration by EU ministers in 2005.
• The theme of spreading knowledge reflects a notion that true good practice
represents ‘optimal’ rather than ‘best’ practice –
• IVISOC aims to provide a ‘know-how’ that encourages participation through
the creation of accessible opportunities for volunteering and volunteers.
![24.05.2012 www.researchatinsight.org
IVISOC [1] ▪▪▪
• Attention is given to the frameworks through which social inclusion is promoted and
the Lifelong Learning Programme is a ‘catalyst for structural change through support
to policy development, cooperation and mobility’… IVISOC aims to identify:
• the knowledge and skills that volunteers bring and the ‘added value’ that this
affords communities (at both local level and across the EU more broadly); with a
• further focus on the ‘3Rs’ – Recruitment, Retention and Recognition within the
volunteering sector… in order to help define project deliverables; and
• the collaborative development of a Volunteering framework and the consideration
of ‘good practice’ within the social care sector to facilitate [more] effective working
structures.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)