Kultur- og kirkedepartementet
Kultur- og kirkedepartementet
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The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs and the voluntary sector

In January 2005, the Minister of Culture and Church Affairs was assigned responsibility for the voluntary sector. This was the first time the sector had been given its own minister. To improve coordination of its voluntary sector policy, the Government gave coordinating responsibility for the sector to the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs, with effect from 1 January 2005. The purpose is to increase the awareness and significance of the voluntary sector.

The Government wishes to stimulate and support the distinctive and significant contribution made by the voluntary sector. The authorities need forces which can supplement, challenge, correct, and exert influence. Norway has long traditions of cooperation between the public and voluntary sectors.

The Government wishes to stimulate greater voluntary effort through a ‘simpler’ voluntary sector. The Government will therefore look at possible ways of reducing unnecessarily bureaucratic schemes, in order to give the organizations in the sector more room to concentrate on their objectives.

VAT compensation for voluntary organizations
The Government is continuing its work on a permanent arrangement for VAT compensation. The Storting has asked the Government to review the VAT compensation scheme for voluntary organizations.

Tax reduction for gifts to voluntary organizations
The tax deductible amount for 2005 for gifts to voluntary organizations has been raised to NOK 12,000. This is in line with declared government objectives regarding measures to strengthen the voluntary sector (see the Sem Declaration 8 October 2001).

Register of voluntary organizations
The Government is continuing its work on the proposed register of voluntary organizations. The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs has appointed a task force to look into the different aspects of such a register, with a view to simplifying administrative tasks for both the voluntary and the public sectors.

Web portal (www.frivillig.no)
The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs has set up a web portal (www.frivillig.no) with information on the voluntary sector. The aim of this web portal is to increase the flow of information on the voluntary sector and to render visible the scope and significance of voluntary activity.

Local volunteer centres
In 2005, responsibility for the volunteer centres scheme was transferred from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. The purpose of the volunteer centres is to pave the way for greater local involvement and voluntary work.


From a local volunteer centre: Youth teaching elderly how to use a cell-phone

From a local volunteer centre: Youth teaching elderly how to use a cell-phone

The volunteer centres have made it easier for people to become involved in voluntary work and they have increased the recruitment of new volunteers. It is the Government’s wish that the volunteer centres will become local powerhouses for voluntary work and in time embrace the breadth and diversity of local voluntary activities. The centres will retain their socio-political organization. The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs established eleven new volunteer centres in 2005.

A voluntary sector forum
To ensure the continued existence of an umbrella body for the voluntary organizations (Frivillighet Norge or Frinor), the Government has allocated a grant of NOK 1.4 million towards a secretariat for the advancement of sector-wide interests.

A new, holistic voluntary sector policy
Here is the Government’s statement on voluntary sector policy (from the Soria Moria Declaration outlining the new Government’s political platform):

Through voluntary work, people become involved in meaningful and socially beneficial activities. Voluntary organizations make a considerable financial contribution to society through the production of services and through a wide variety of unpaid work. There are indications of change on the voluntary front. The voluntary sector is under pressure from widespread modernization processes and a general individualization in society. To ensure recruitment of active volunteers and representatives, it is necessary to reduce administrative tasks and give the organizations more time to pursue their activities.

The Government will:

  • formally give voluntary activities the status of a separate sector by establishing a register of voluntary organizations. This will open up the possibility of simpler regulations for taxation, VAT and employer’s contributions.
  • look into the possibility of a permanent scheme for VAT compensation for voluntary organizations.
  • respect the special nature of the organizations by reducing the use of project funds. A larger share of grants will be allocated in the form of unrestricted funds.
  • encourage greater activity by raising the basic grant for children’s and youth organizations and review the criteria for grants.
  • adapt regulations and grant schemes to suit present-day organizational structures in order to include new organizations, new forms of organization and ad hoc involvement.
  • continue development of the local volunteer centres.
  • review the allocation of funds from the state-run Frifond and ensure that the voluntary organizations receive their rightful share of gaming profits. The increase in profits from Norsk Tipping (state-owned gaming company) will benefit cultural activities and the voluntary sector in the form of a real increase.
  • increase adult education funds which are very important for the work in voluntary organizations.

Local volunteer centres
There are volunteer centres (frivillighetssentraler) all over Norway. They are meeting places which provide opportunities for contact between people in the local community. Some need help; others want to give help. As time passes, many people find that the roles change. The objective of the volunteer centres is to coordinate the voluntary contribution made by private individuals and organizations in the community and thus strengthen and promote voluntary work.

Most people who help out at a volunteer centre spend about two hours a week there. There are no long-term agreements. If you find the work meaningful, you continue. If not, you decide yourself when to stop. The volunteer centres have proved to be a good way of activating voluntary service in the local community. The reward is in the joy of helping others.

The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs has been responsible for allocating financial support to the volunteer centres since 1 January 2005. The Ministry will initiate the establishment of new centres, provide start-up advice and support, spread information, and make use of and develop experience gained from existing centres. In 2005, there were 265 volunteer centres in Norway.