Put volunteer work on the ageneration
Just like the many volunteers in your municipality, as council members you devote many free hours heart and soul to a strong social foundation: a pleasant neighborhood and society.
But how do you do that in the best (a safe, proven long-term, and efficient way? You can read more about it in our volunteer calendar.
Volunteer agenda: Investing in volunteer work is investing in a strong social foundation
Congratulations on your new council! The votes have been counted, and the course for the next four years is now being determined. It is an exciting moment, because the challenges in our society do not stop at the ballot box.
We see that the pressure on our social domain is increasing. Issues surrounding an aging population, economic security, and care shortages call for smart choices in the new municipal budget. We believe that the solution lies not only in policy, but above all in the very fabric of the municipality: the social foundation.
Volunteering is the indispensable driving force in this regard. It strengthens social cohesion and offers direct support to vulnerable residents in a way that no professional care can replace. However, this does not happen automatically. A strong social foundation requires a clear vision in the new coalition agreement: how do we make it easier, safer, and more attractive for *all* residents to 'simply' be there for each other again?
As NLvoorelkaar, we are happy to offer you the tools to anchor this power in your plans. Because only together can you build a municipality where everyone counts and participates.
Download the volunteer calendar
Would you prefer one A4 page with the voluntary agenda and the 5 points with which you smartly build a strong social foundation in a new coalition agreement?
Strengthen neighborly help and looking out for one another
Invest in initiatives that truly connect neighbors and fellow residents. This makes informal help easily accessible, increases social cohesion, and strengthens the resilience of neighborhoods.
Make volunteering accessible to everyone
Everyone has a talent and should be able to participate. Lower barriers for residents receiving benefits, newcomers, or people facing barriers to employment, so that they can contribute to society in their own way.
Ensure a socially safe environment
Volunteering should be a pleasant and safe experience, both in the neighborhood and online. Support volunteers with training, trusted persons, and safe digital platforms.
Lead by example with employee volunteering
As a municipality, show how it can be done: encourage your own employees to dedicate themselves to the city. By doing so, you also make employee volunteering attractive to local businesses and their talent.
Leverage digital innovation to reach untapped potential
By using smart digital platforms, you reach a new group of people who want to make a difference. Matching requests for help with offers of assistance becomes easy and modern, strengthening the local network.
Together we build strong municipalities, where voluntary involvement grows and flourishes
This volunteering agenda is an initiative of NLvoorelkaar, the Netherlands' largest volunteer platform. Every year, we match hundreds of thousands of people. With over 10 years of experience and research in collaboration with Erasmus University, we know what works and offer up-to-date insights for policy and practice.
Discover how much volunteer potential remains untapped in your municipality.
The societal challenge is great, but the societal power is greater. We know: the people are there. The will is there. Did you know, for example:
- 11% of residents do not yet volunteer but would like to.
- 24% to 54% are already doing something but would like to do even more.
In short: it is now just a matter of engaging, activating, and letting it grow.
Curious how much potential remains untapped in your municipality? Request the untapped potential checker:
