International Voluntary Service

How to become an EVS volunteer

Note: IVS is registered for SENDING only.

Step by Step Guidelines

Please note that IVS currently only sends volunteers to EVS placements with branches of our own organisation, SCI (Service Civil International).

These can be found in the Long-Term Volunteering section of our website.

Useful websites:

• www.britishcouncil.org/youthinaction
• www.youthnetworks.eu

Step 1. Finding a Sending Organisation

The EVS programme operates through a system of approved Sending Organisations (SO), that are responsible for recruiting, preparing, sending and keeping in touch with volunteers. To take part in EVS, you need to either:

1. Register with an already approved EVS SO in your local area (a list with contact details can be obtained from Connect Youth), or…
2. Persuade an organisation you already know (should have experience of working with young people and be able to offer you appropriate support) to become approved as an EVS SO (application form available from Connect Youth)

Step 2. Finding a Host Placement  (not part of IVS)

All SOs operate slightly differently, and have different capacities for sending volunteers. For example some organisations only work with already established partners overseas, whereas others are open to working with a wide variety of European placements and use the official EVS host-placement database. You can access the database on:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/sos/

Most organisations will also make sure that you fully understand the concept of volunteering and that you are truly committed to a period of voluntary service before formally agreeing to take you on board.

What all SOs have in common though, is the fact that they are responsible for:

• Helping you find a suitable placement (some SOs will engage you in the work of finding a placement, as this is usually a very time-consuming activity)
• Negotiating the terms of your volunteering placement with the Host Organisation (agreeing start and end-dates, leave-entitlements, working hours, living-arrangements etc.)
• Applying for a European Commission grant to cover your costs
• Helping you to prepare for your experience abroad (could include language training, your rights/responsibilities as a volunteer, country- information, problem-solving techniques etc)
• Keeping in contact with you throughout the experience (email/telephone) and undertaking some kind of follow-up when you return.The SO might want your help in promoting the EVS programme, and you might want to learn more about other opportunities available to you (e.g. Future Capital - funding made available to ex-EVS volunteers who wish to set up their own project)

Step 3. Completing the application

When all three partners (you, your SO and Host placement) have agreed a placement and clarified all practical arrangements (don’t be afraid of asking questions like – where will I live, who will be my supervisor, are there any other volunteers in my placement, and will I receive any training?), your SO and Host organisation will submit grant applications seeking European Commission funding.

The grant will cover costs like travel, insurance, board & lodging, training and your pocket money (varies depending on your destination).

There are 5 deadlines for submitting applications each year:

Step 4. Approving your application

You should on average expect a waiting period of approximately 1.5 - 2 months from the deadline, before you get a result from your SO, which might be:

• If your application is approved, you and your SO can start to finalise arrangements such as booking flights, arranging insurance etc. You will also attend a pre-departure training event, organised by Connect Youth, where you will meet other outgoing EVS volunteers and discuss a number of topics such as health and safety, your expectations, who to contact in case of emergencies etc.
• If your application is rejected – you may want to discuss a possible re- submission for the following deadline.