An online school for volunteers and organisations for volunteers has been set up by a group of European voluntary organisations.

The European School of Volunteering Online is now live, and was presented to the European Commission recently as part of the organisation’s official Year of Volunteering in 2011. The courses offered online range from ‘leadership’ to ‘key abilities of the staff working with volunteers’. All courses are provided in English, and many are available in an additional European language.

The Foundacion Voluntarios por Madrid led the project, in association with five other voluntary groups from Italy, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia and Romania.

The courses are provided free of charge.

Also announced yesterday was the EC's commitment to improve the recognition and promotion of volunteering in the EU. In its policy document on volunteering, the EC outlines measures to help foster voluntary activities including the creation of a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps and the development of a European Skills Passport.