Volunteer Development Scotland and the European Year of Volunteering 2011
Volunteer Development Scotland in partnership with its European partners have been active over the last four years in a campaign to receive approval for a special year with a volunteering theme across Europe. This campaign has been successful, and in 2009 the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union officially announced that there will be a European Year of Volunteering in 2011. A logo for the year has been adopted and a slogan - Volunteer! Make a difference.
Plans are at an early stage, but Volunteer Development Scotland is providing a leadership, engagement and facilitation role for this opportunity and is actively seeking to engage with members and other interested bodies to gather ideas in order to make progress for this special year. Additionally, we have very much welcomed the Scottish Government interest in the Year. They have asked Volunteer Development Scotland to work with them in support of the Year.
Discussions are on-going about how England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will work together and separately on aspects of EYV2011. An emerging common theme is around the question, 'What can I contribute to my community?'
A communications agency has been appointed to develop a toolbox of materials and activities such as posters and flyers on volunteering in Europe. A website for the Year will be produced that will include showcasing volunteers’ stories along with a host of other activities.
If you would like to contribute to the discussions around EYV2011, please send your ideas and comment to Volunteer Development Scotland on vds@vds.org.uk
Volunteer Development Scotland is pleased to present the final, approved version of the Logo for the European Year of Volunteering 2011 as endorsed by the European Commission. The release of the approved Logo is yet another reminder of how close we are to the start of EYV2011. Over the next few weeks and months more materials including templates, logo use guidelines and other communications resources including a website, will be available. Of course, we will ensure you know about these too, as you make your plans to maximise the impact of EYV2011 for your volunteers, your organisation and the communities you work in.
Volunteer Development Scotland has set up a special email address eyv2011@vds.org.uk for those who want the inside track on EYV2011. Through e-mail we will soon be providing a summary of results following our recent Scotland-wide survey on EYV2011. These results include lots of great ideas on how the various respondents plan to use the Year to fit their needs, so as to build and recognise their volunteering achievements. If you want to access more on EYV2011, just drop us a line on this email and we'll add you to the list. eyv2011@vds.org.uk
The EYV2011 Logo comes in three forms: full-colour, grey, and black/white. You can link to the Logo versions here ...
(right click and save image as for a higher res copy) 
(right click and save image as for a higher res copy) 
(right click and save image as for a higher res copy)
Download "Guidelines for the good use of the EYV logo"
(Please note, an older version of the Logo has been withdrawn and is not approved, so please check you are using one of the official versions from the links above.)