The definition of volunteering used in the 1997 National Survey of Volunteering is:
"any activity which involves spending time, unpaid, doing something which aims to benefit someone (individuals or groups) other than or in addition to close relatives, or to benefit the environment."

The definition of volunteering used in the Home Office Citizenship Survey, 2001 is:
"Formal Volunteering - Giving unpaid help through groups, clubs or organisations to benefit other people or the environment."

Informal Volunteering - Giving unpaid help as an individual to people who are not relatives.
The 1997 National Survey of Volunteering can be downloaded from: www.ivr.org.uk/nationalsurvey.htm

The Volunteering Code of Good Practice published in 2005 contains a short definition of volunteering within a longer context setting description of volunteering. It states that volunteering is "…an activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or individuals or groups other than (or in addition to) close relatives". The Volunteering Code of Good Practice sets out principles and undertakings for both Government and the voluntary and community sector in England on how to work together to support and promote volunteering and voluntary activity.

A summary of the Volunteering Compact Code can be downloaded (PDF Format) from: http://www.thecompact.org.uk/module_images/Compact%20Code%20Flyer.pdf

The full copy of the Volunteering Compact Code can be downloaded (PDF Format) from:
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/module_images/Final%20Compact%20Volunteering%20Code%2005.pdf

Another appropriate definition of volunteering is:
"Volunteering is the giving of time and energy through a third party, which can bring measurable benefits to the volunteer, individual beneficiaries, groups and organisations, communities, environment and society at large. It is a choice undertaken of one's own free will, and is not motivated primarily for financial gain or for a wage or salary."

What is Volunteering Infrastructure?

Compass Partnership and the Office of Public Management has defined voluntary and community sector infrastructure as:
"the physical facilities, structures, systems, relationships, people, knowledge and skills that exist to support and develop, co-ordinate, represent and promote front-line organisations thus enabling them to deliver their missions more effectively."

Infrastructure organisations can be defined as:
"voluntary organisations whose primary purpose is the provision of infrastructure functions (support and development, co-ordination, representation and promotion) to front-line voluntary and community organisations."

What are Volunteer Development Agencies?

Volunteer Development Agencies (often known as Volunteer Centres) provide support at a local level for individual volunteers and volunteer involving organisations. They have six core functions:

1) Brokerage
VDAs primary function is to match both individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate opportunities in the local community. VDAs hold information on a comprehensive range of opportunities. They offer potential volunteers support and advice matching their motivation to volunteer with appropriate volunteering opportunities.

2) Marketing Volunteering
VDAs stimulate and encourage local interest in volunteering and community activity. This may include promoting and marketing volunteering through local, regional and national events and campaigns. VDAs will manage and promote a national brand for volunteering.

3) Good Practice Development
VDAs promote good practice in working with volunteers to all volunteer involving organisations. They deliver training and accreditation for potential volunteers, volunteer managers and volunteer-involving organisations.

4) Develop Volunteering Opportunities
VDAs work in close partnership with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies as well as community groups and faith groups to develop local volunteering opportunities. VDAs understand the potential offered by the local communities and work with them to realise this potential. VDA will target specific groups which face barriers to volunteering. VDAs work creatively to develop imaginative, non-formal opportunities for potential volunteers.

5) Policy Response and Campaigning
VDAs identify proposals or legislation that may impact on volunteering. VDAs lead and/or participate in campaigns on issues that affect volunteers or volunteering. VDAs campaign proactively for a more volunteer-literate and volunteer-friendly climate.

6) Strategic Development of Volunteering
As the local experts on volunteering VDAs inform strategic thinking and planning at a regional and national level.

What are Volunteer Centres?

Volunteer Centres (VCs) are nationally branded and quality accredited Volunteer Development Agencies (VDAs).

Volunteer Centres are agencies who:
- Put people who are interested in volunteering in touch with the groups that need help
- Work in partnership with others to improve the quality of volunteering
- Keep volunteering in the public eye
- Represent the interests of volunteering

Volunteer Centres are voluntary organisations that provide a wide range of services to their local communities. Putting people in touch with the groups that need help.

Lots of people are interested in volunteering but are not sure how to get started. They wonder what groups need help? What kind of help do they need? When and where is the help needed? A visit to a local Volunteer Centre can help members of the public to get the answers to these questions.

Information

Volunteer Centres collect information from local groups about their current volunteer vacancies. VCs use a variety of methods to advertise and promote these opportunities including via the National Volunteering Database: www.do-it.org.uk/

Advice
Volunteer Centres will spend time with prospective volunteers helping them to pick a volunteer opportunity best suited to their circumstances and interests.

On-going Support
Volunteer Centres can offer support to people throughout their volunteering, whether it's advice, encouragement or information about other or new volunteering opportunities. Many Volunteer Centres also offer training opportunities to volunteers.

Improving the Quality of Volunteering
Volunteer Centres work closely with groups and organisations that need and involve volunteers in their work.

VCs help groups and organisations by giving:
- Advice and information on issues such as volunteer insurance and expenses
- Information on good practice
- Help in finding the volunteers they need
- News on events and issues affecting volunteering

Volunteer Centres work hard at keeping volunteering in the spotlight through the local press or by organising volunteer recruitment events e.g. during National Volunteers' Week: www.volunteersweek.org.uk/. VCs also work with private and publice sector bodies and funders to try and ensure that policies and resources are available to support volunteering.

To search a database of UK Volunteer Centres use the on-line VC Finder: www.doit.org.uk/wanttovolunteer/aboutvolunteering/vcfinder