Visiting the alderman

This week we had a good conversation with Simone Kukenheim, alderman for Education, Youth, and Care. The purpose of the conversation was mutual acquaintance. The reason was the Volunteer Work Trend Report 2019.that we drafted together with Vrijwilligersacademie, ViiA, and VenzoSorry, but I can’t assist with that request.Here are the agenda items for policy and practice of volunteering in Amsterdam identified from the field. The discussion topic is the impact of voluntary work on the city, based on the personal experiences of volunteers.Investing in the people who volunteer for this city requires craftsmanship and customization. And that is an investment with triple returns: higher quality of well-being and care, reduced healthcare consumption, and increased social inclusion.

Introducing myself

Henriette van der Meij, director of Volunteer Center Amsterdam (VCA), presents the broad support for volunteering in Amsterdam. Volunteer organizations are assisted by VCA, while other organizations receive advice on how to work with volunteers. The alderman is interested in corporate social responsibility; this is also a starting point for VCA to strengthen volunteering in Amsterdam. Director Karin Hanekroot talks about the Volunteer Academy; sharing and developing training and methodology, course and enhancing experiential knowledge. Proximity, listening, and contact are super important in this process.

Volunteers speak

Mike talks about his background with brain damage, parked on the sidelines in the Wajong; he wasn’t even received at the UWV. Although he seemed to have no future, he got involved in volunteering through organizations like De Regenboog Groep and the training program at the Vrijwilligersacademie. This gave him the courage to keep growing. He has since completed the GGz Ervaringsagoog Opleiding (GEO) and now works as a peer support worker. In November, he will give a presentation at a professional congress with 2 colleagues. Who would have ever thought that.

Mike: I don’t need a Christmas package, I’d rather continue learning!

What have those training sessions taught you?

In response to the councilor’s question, Mike explains that the most important thing he has learned is how not to try to ‘rescue’ people. Sometimes you need to rephrase goals; you never know when someone is ready, or when things will click. Another important lesson was to set your own boundaries and maintain your motivation.

What can you do that professionals can’t?

As an expert by experience, you understand better what someone means, you don’t have to learn that from a book. People trust you more quickly. You have a different role and you engage with yourself. By telling, asking questions, and encouraging, close connections are formed.

From rejected to social entrepreneur

Zwaan was declared unfit for work in 2003 but wanted to make a social impact again. That’s why, together with Karin, she set up a clothing bank in Amsterdam Noord at the end of 2017. Starting with 2 volunteers, they now have 36 volunteers. These volunteers are all different types and they apply through the Have & Hold job page on the VCA website. In this project, all her knowledge and experience come together, but sometimes there is a need for expert advice. The VCA also supports in professionalizing and there is good communication back and forth.

Doesn’t it grow above your head then?

“We have grown very quickly, so that is a concern,” says Zwaan. She is thinking about the next step, continuity. She is working on developing a good revenue model. After the initial phase, funds often withdraw, so we need to prepare for that now. Zwaan emphasizes the importance of volunteer organizations as well as the collaboration between the formal and informal sectors. Sometimes we can act faster because governments are more bound by rules and budgets. Undertaking without money and with volunteers is a challenge. But the return on investment is huge.

Dare to invest

When you hear these stories, you also hear that it doesn’t happen automatically. Advice, support, and training are needed. In the spring memorandum, there was a planned cut in voluntary efforts, which fortunately has been scrapped. That was the reason to write the trend report. The alderman emphasizes that choices always have to be made. An additional 80 million will be made available, also for the social foundation. If we are faced with choices, what do we find important? Which structures to maintain and which not? It’s about the distribution and collaboration between formal and informal. We establish that it is good to seek each other out on this.

Attention requested

We called attention to volunteers because often there is a focus on (the ‘deployment’ of) volunteers, instead of giving them a position and tapping into their strengths. Sometimes volunteer work becomes a last resort, with attention shifting to professionals. It’s about investing in people. The alderman emphasizes that the infrastructure we have built will of course remain in place. Investing doesn’t always have to involve money. But what is needed is attention to the unique strength of volunteers in the city and social foundation.

We conclude with high praise from the alderman for the personal stories and examples of what volunteer work can mean for people. We will be in touch in the coming period; the alderman is warmly invited to attend masterclasses on this topic and the festive celebration of the 30 years of the Volunteer Center Amsterdam.