The Forum for Voluntary Social Work is an umbrella organization in Sweden that aims to improve conditions for volunteering. It has over 40 member organizations and focuses on policy, knowledge sharing, and tools to support its members. Volunteering is strong in Sweden, with over half the population volunteering on average 14 hours per month. Civil society has historically played an important role alongside the welfare state in identifying needs and developing new methods to address social issues. Ensuring continued independence of organizations is fundamental to maintaining a strong civil society sector in Sweden.

1. ––– Forum and
volunteering in
Sweden

2. –––Forum

3. Forum for Voluntary Social Work
 Umbrella / interest organisation for Swedish national
voluntary social organisations
 Aim: Improve conditions for social voluntary work
 Three main areas
 Policy
 Knowledge
 Tools

4. Members
Brottsofferjourernas riksförbund
Civilförsvarsförbundet
Diakonistiftelsen Samariterhemmet
ExtraKompis
Fenix
Frivillig vänjänst
Frälsningsarmén
Föreningen för Hörselskadade och Döva Barn med
Familjer
Hela Människan
HOPP-riksorganisationen mot sexuella övergrepp
Individuell Människohjälp
IOGT-NTO
KFUM Sverige
Lions Clubs International
LP-verksamheten
Majblommans riksförbund
Riksförbundet BRIS
Riksförbundet Sveriges fritids- och hemgårdar
Riksföreningen Sveriges Stadsmissioner
Riksorganisationen för kvinnojourer och tjejjourer i
Sverige ROKS
Rädda Barnen
Sensus Studieförbund
Sociala Missionen
Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan
Styvmorsviolen
Svensk förening för folkhälsoarbete
Svenska Kyrkan
Svenska Röda Korset
Sveriges Blåbandförbund
Sveriges Frikyrkosamråd
Sveriges Invandrare Mot Narkotika (SIMON)
Sveriges Kvinnojourers riksförbund
Sveriges Makalösa Föräldrar
Viljans frivilligcentral
Våga Värna Varandra

5. Activities
Volontärbyrån
Volounteer matching agency
Techsoup
IT-donations
Nytta
Social enterprises market
place
Ideella jobb
Job pasting board
Överenskommelsen
Continous talk between gov´t,
local regions and third sector

6. ––– first, some history

17. ––– Then what?
Sedated?

18. Did the welfare state kill civil
society and volunteering?
 Active volunteers:
48% of population engaged on average 16 h/month
 Coexists and thrives with the welfare state!
 Identifies and solves need and develop methods– often
public authorites takes over / builds on ths works
 Now: Higher understanding that NGOs has a value of
their own and is the best suited agent.

19. Fundamentals for our work
Constitutional right to organise and freedom of
speech
A free press
That the principle of legality is upheld
Political freedom, and parliamentarism
Funding regimes supporting real independence
A mixed economy of welfare
A high level of trust and solidarity

20. Civil Society sector in Sweden
 Stems from people movement - “Folkrörelse”
 200 000 organisations (49% less than 9 years)
 32 million memberships (population base 9 million)
 Active volunteers: 51% of population engage on average
14 h/month (168 h/year)
 24% employed in sector, 76% volunteers
 Share of GDP 6%

21. Swedish Civil Society Strengths
 The welfare system has many sources – civil society strong and
important actor - historically and today
 Idea based and value driven – not only complementing public
services
 Experience and knowledge – enjoys a unique trust
 Involvement a driving force and voluntary leadership
 Voice – for societal development and for unheard groups
 No specific legislation – freedom of association

22. Volunteering
The amount of direct help, i.e. social work is rising dramatically, these
19 % is the same as 500 000 persons, which is the same as Swedens
second largest city.

23. Future for NGOs
 Financial challenge
 Aging population
 More expensive health care (?)
 Immigration / obstacles to the labour market
 Current discussion on best suited principal for health and
social care, based on eonom

24. ––– But funding?

25. Civil society in Sweden
• A financial structure that support independence
• Less funding for the base…
• …and more project funding
• Drainpipe systems
• New social contract?
• CSR

26. Voluntary Organisation Funding
Sources
Type of funding % million €
 Membership fees 30 2120
 Own sales, lotteries… 30 2120
 Public financing 30 2120
 Donations, fundraising 10 738
TOTAL 100 7098

27. Sources of Public Funding
Type of funding % million €
State grants/subsidies 33 690
Counties grants/subsidies 7 149
Municipalities grants/subsidies 19 392
Service delivery (mainly county/municipality) 41 889*
TOTAL 100 2120

28. Recipients of Public Funding
Sector %
Education 43
Sports 19
International aid 15
Disability 8
Social work 5
Political parties 5
Culture 2
Misc. 3
TOTAL 100 (of € 690)
Public funding of € 1231 pays back 15917  13 times!

29. ––– Third sector–
private partnership

30. Today
Swedish welfare understood as a gov´t funded and
executed health care
Now a gov´t funded and execution by mixed
principals
However, welfare has a bigger picture
Procurement processes ill suited for NGOs, designed
for large corporations
Procured / check based systems
Over-implemented EU procurement rules
No venture capital for NGOs

31. Grants
Short-term
Administration
Weak connection to
results
Supports
independence
NGO owns intellectual
property
Sparks ideas
Positive externalities

32. Procurement
Competition
Service
Public authorities owns
intellectual property
Long(er)term

33. NGO / Public partnerhip
A model inbetween grant funding and procurement
Allows multiple actors
Support the aim, not the problem
Tested, not tried
Political interest

34. NGO / Public partnerhip
Initiated by the NGO
Public interest
Not a part of the organisations grant
Non-market conditions
Both agents gives resources
Not regulated by the authorities
Long relationships

36. ––– Enjoy Stockholm!