Interships & Volunteer services

The European Volunteer Centre (CEV) is a European network of currently over 80[2] mainly national and regional volunteer centers and volunteer development agencies across Europe and beyond that together work to support and promote voluntary activity.[ CEV channels the collective priorities and concerns of its member organizations to the institutions of the European Union. It also acts as a central forum for the exchange of policy, practice, and information on volunteering.

"Volunteer Centres" in the UK are sometimes known as "volunteer bureaux" or "volunteer development agencies". Working to a national model they provide support at a local level for individual volunteers and volunteer-involving organizations. They have six core functions, which combined seek to promote and develop volunteering in local communities[3] and link potential volunteers with volunteer-involving organisations.

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain "to benefit another person, group or organization". Volunteering is also renowned for skill development and is often intended to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life. Volunteering may have positive benefits for the volunteer as well as for the person or community served. It is also intended to make contacts for possible employment. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as-needed basis, such as in response to a natural disaster.