Essential: voluntary work at the heart of the community

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1. Analytical summary

Context, issues, audiences

The brochure places volunteering in a historical, social and legal perspective, based on the example of associations for blind and visually impaired people and the Red Cross in Belgium. It recalls the legal definition of volunteering (Belgian law of 2005) and quantifies the commitment: 866,521 volunteers, 143 million hours in 2019, or about 92,087 FTEs, mainly in the associative sector. It describes the diversity of volunteers (age, socio-economic status, biographical paths) and the multiple motivations: family socialisation, precarious trajectories, quest for meaning, extension of militant or religious commitment. The text also questions the issues of professionalisation, “symbolic salary”, well-being and health associated with volunteer engagement. Finally, it highlights the collective tensions: structural underfunding, political reliance on volunteers to compensate for the shortcomings of the health and social action system, particularly during the Covid crisis.

Operational contributions for stakeholders

The document provides concrete benchmarks to define volunteering, clarify its relationship with paid work, and establish safeguards against the instrumentalisation of this resource in public policies. It offers a series of situated narratives (Ligue Braille, Special Olympics, Masaber, Collectif Contraception, medical houses, food aid) that illustrate both the benefits and risks of volunteering for the public and the volunteers themselves. It emphasises the need for a structured framework: charter, agreements, support, initial and ongoing training for volunteers as well as for leaders, particularly in the social-health sector where the public is highly vulnerable. A summary of a UCLouvain–Christian Mutuality study shows that volunteers report better perceived health and make less use of healthcare than non-involved individuals. The work concludes with political questions: how to prevent volunteers from replacing professionals, how to recognise their contribution without turning them into a budget adjustment variable.

2. Key points of the document 

1. Volunteering as free work structuring social-health

   Volunteering is defined both legally and sociologically as a free, voluntary activity directed towards others, organised within a collective framework and distinct from employment, but increasingly borrowing the codes of paid work (organisation, constraints, professionalisation). The text emphasises the notion of "honour work" and "symbolic wage" (recognition, meaning, identity) to understand the place of volunteering in social and health systems. (p. 5, 8-9, 14-15)

2. A quantified and massive impact in Belgium

   The data from the King Baudouin Foundation shows that in 2019, 9.2% of people aged 15 and over (866,521 individuals) engage in volunteering, representing nearly 143 million annual hours, equivalent to about 92,087 full-time equivalents, with 84.5% of the activity in the non-profit sector. The Francophone Volunteering Platform reminds us that in the Walloon-Brussels Federation, over 250,000 volunteers respond to needs that society does not finance or does not finance enough. (p. 6-7)

3. Diversity of profiles and motivations, beyond clichés

   The document shows that there is no "typical profile" of a volunteer: retirees, unemployed, students, people in vulnerable situations, long-time activists, descendants of founders, etc. The motivations combine family socialisation, experiences of poverty, search for recognition, need for social connection, quest for meaning, political or religious engagement, and sometimes preparation or extension of a professional path. (p. 10-13, 17-19, 38-43)

4. Volunteering, well-being and health: a nuanced protective effect

   A UCLouvain–Christian Mutuality study, based on 7,000 respondents, shows that volunteers report a better subjective state of health than non-involved individuals, and make less use of healthcare (consultations, hospitalisations, reimbursed medications). The beneficial effect comes through the sense of belonging, social support, collective identity, and integration into an organised structure; conversely, isolation reinforces morbidity. (p. 32-35)

5. Risks of abuses and the need for ethical oversight

   The brochure details possible abuses: volunteers used as "free labour" in commercial structures or underfunded public services, stigmatising remarks in food aid, over-investment leading to stress or burnout. It highlights the importance of charters, agreements, training, regulatory spaces, and political positioning to defend a "quality" volunteering that does not replace employment or the responsibilities of the State. (p. 28‑31, 34‑36)

3. Action points for local actors 

1. Clarify the framework of volunteering in each structure (p. 5, 28‑31)

   Formalise a shared definition of volunteering based on the 2005 law (free, unpaid, organised activity, distinct from an employment contract) and disseminate it to both the paid team and the volunteers. Establish a local agreement or charter specifying rights, duties, limits, responsibilities, and the structure's position regarding symbolic remuneration and reimbursement. (p. 5, 28‑31)

2. Systematically organise the welcome, training, and support of volunteers (p. 12, 20‑23, 31‑32)

   Draw inspiration from the Braille League or Amnesty to build an integration pathway: presentation of the structure, learning tasks, support from a mentor, peer exchange spaces, training on helping relationships, boundary management, and ethical posture. Plan regular check-ins to prevent burnout, over-investment, or abuses (paternalism, moral judgement, role confusion). (p. 20‑23, 31‑32)

3. Recognise volunteering without substituting it for employment (p. 21‑22, 34‑36)

   In medical houses, family planning, reception centres, avoid having volunteers take on tasks requiring professional expertise or legal responsibility (diagnosis, decision-making, encoding sensitive data) without supervision. Use the brochure as a discussion tool with funders and local authorities to advocate for the maintenance of paid positions, showing how volunteering complements but does not replace professional functions. (p. 21‑22, 34‑36)

4. Mobilise volunteering as a lever for community health (p. 17‑19, 32‑35, 38‑44)

   Integrate volunteers into collective actions (discussion groups, sports activities, food aid, cultural mediation) by betting on their ability to create connections, reduce isolation, and value the experiential knowledge of the public. Equip teams to transform "encounters of otherness" into opportunities for co-construction and advocacy (volunteer participation in needs analysis, public positions). (p. 34‑36, 38‑44)

5. Address emotional risks and sensitive themes (p. 21‑23, 34‑36)

   In contexts of extreme precariousness, disability, end of life, migration, or violence, establish spaces for supervision or debriefing for volunteers to address shock, distress, anger, guilt. Provide clear procedures for extreme situations (suicidal ideation, revelations of violence, serious conflicts) and train volunteers in identification and referral to relevant professionals. (p. 21‑23, 34‑36)

4. Additional references

1. « Volunteering in social action: an unconditional commitment? Collaborative research in Brussels » (Guibreteau M., Rosenzweig M., PFV, 2025) — Full report (116 p.) and summary (48 p.) on the forms of volunteering in Brussels' social action, with organisational and policy recommendations. https://www.levolontariat.be/sites/default/files/2025-02/2025_volontariat_en_action_sociale_synthese_fr.pdf

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

1. Who is considered a volunteer according to this document? (p. 5, 14‑15)

   The brochure is based on the Belgian law of 2005: anyone who engages in an activity without remuneration or obligation, for the benefit of others or the community, in an organised framework distinct from an employment contract, service or statutory designation, is considered a volunteer. It emphasises the dimensions of gratuity, freedom, and community orientation, while reminding of the possibility of reimbursement for certain expenses. (p. 5, 14‑15)

2. In which sectors do the described volunteers mainly operate? (p. 3‑4, 6‑7, 20‑23)

   The examples cover associations for people with disabilities (Ligue Braille, Special Olympics), the Red Cross, associations fighting poverty (Masaber), medical houses, family planning, food aid, and cultural mediation. Overall, 84.5% of voluntary activities are situated in the associative sector, with the public sector and citizen initiatives representing a smaller share. (p. 3‑4, 6‑7, 20‑23)

3. What are the main benefits of volunteering for the volunteers themselves? (p. 10‑13, 17‑19, 32‑35, 38‑44)

   Testimonials show effects on personal development, a sense of usefulness, recognition, the creation of social ties, the discovery of unsuspected skills, and a strong "symbolic salary". The UCLouvain–MC study also indicates better perceived health among volunteers, less reliance on care, and a protective effect related to the sense of belonging and social support. (p. 32‑35, 38‑44)

4. What are the limits and risks highlighted for volunteers? (p. 28‑31, 34‑36, 40‑43)

   The text describes risks of stress, anxiety, and burnout when engagement is poorly supported or over-invested, especially in contexts of great precariousness or repeated confrontation with suffering. It also points out abuses: moralising statements in food aid, role confusion, and instrumentalisation by public authorities to compensate for the underfunding of social and health services. (p. 28‑31, 34‑36, 40‑43)

5. How to articulate volunteering and paid employment in a social-health structure? (p. 21‑22, 28‑31, 34‑36)

   The brochure advocates the idea that volunteering complements professional work without replacing it: it provides presence, support, participation, but should not substitute for qualified positions or the responsibility of the state. It encourages the development of clear frameworks, the definition of tasks suited to volunteers, and supervision by professionals, particularly in medical centres and abortion services. (p. 21‑22, 28‑31, 34‑36)

6. What concrete support measures are recommended? (p. 20‑23, 28‑31, 32‑33)

   The brochure discusses the establishment of charters, agreements, dedicated volunteering services (such as at the Braille League), internal training, coordination meetings, and support spaces for volunteers and coordinators. It highlights the PFV as a resource for training, tools, and advice on quality volunteering. (p. 20‑23, 28‑31, 32‑33)

7. How is volunteering a collective political issue and not just an individual one? (p. 34‑36, 46‑47)

   The document emphasises that in a context of budgetary restrictions, governments rely on volunteers to maintain services, at the risk of turning civic engagement into a palliative for austerity policies. It calls for a collective debate on the relationship between volunteering, public funding, social rights, and citizen participation, rather than leaving these questions solely to associations. (p. 34‑36, 46‑47)

6. Rewriting in Easy-to-Read Language 

Title

Voluntary work at the heart of the community

Context and issues (Easy-to-Read Language)

Many people help for free in associations.

This is called volunteering.

These people give their time to help others.

The state does not always fund social and health services adequately.

So associations rely heavily on volunteers.

The document explains what this changes for everyone.

Contributions for the field (Easy-to-Read Language)

The text provides concrete examples of associations with volunteers.

It shows how to properly welcome and support volunteers.

It also mentions what can pose problems for volunteers and users.

It reminds us that volunteers should not replace employees.

It shows that volunteering can be good for health and morale.

It invites us to think together about the future of volunteering.

Key points in easy-to-read language

• Volunteering is unpaid work to help others.

• In Belgium, many people volunteer each year.

• Volunteers are very different: young, old, poor, rich.

• Volunteers can feel better and less alone thanks to their actions.

• We must protect volunteers: training, listening, clear rules.

• Volunteers should not serve as free labour for the state.

7. Cross-analysis – values of Health Practices

• Literacy: The document uses accessible language, inclusive writing, and many examples, but remains dense; it is suitable for readers with average to good literacy, less so for audiences in significant difficulty without mediation.

• Empowerment: Beneficiaries are mainly described through the stories of volunteers; beneficiaries are recognised as bearers of experiences, but are little involved formally in the design or evaluation of the systems.

• Participation: The text values civic engagement and the journeys of volunteers, but does not describe explicit mechanisms for co-construction of policies or systems with volunteers and the public.

• Community health: The collective dimension is well present through associations, associative life, the reduction of isolation, and the effects on well-being, but the reference to "community health" is not explicitly stated as such.

• Ethics: The document identifies possible biases (moral judgement towards beneficiaries, instrumentalisation of volunteers) and advocates for respectful framing, while not proposing a structured ethical framework.

• Human rights: The principles of dignity, non-substitution to employment and refusal to instrumentalise volunteers align with a logic of equity and inclusion, notably through the reference to Amnesty and the Contraception collective.

• Intersectorality: Several sectors are mobilised (health, social, disability, culture, sport, youth), but the articulation between sectors is not formalised as an intersectoral strategy.

• Partnership: Collaborations between volunteers and professionals are described more as daily practices than as formalised models of contractual partnership.

• Combating discrimination: The text mentions stigmatising remarks in food aid and calls for vigilance, but does not develop a structured approach to combating discrimination or non-judgement.

8. Evaluation of the reliability of the resource

• Scientific relevance

  The brochure relies on sociological work (Ferrand-Bechmann, Van Liel, Simonet), recent quantitative data (King Baudouin Foundation 2019), institutional resources (PFV, UCLouvain, MC) and references updated until 2025. The citations are sourced at the end of the document with author, year and URL, allowing for cross-verification.

• Operational relevance

  The text provides a nuanced understanding of volunteering in the social-health sector, illustrated by numerous directly transferable case studies, but it offers few 'turnkey' tools (grids, checklists, protocols). For professionals, it serves as a very useful support for reflection, training, and debate, to be complemented by operational PFV guides or internal reference frameworks.