Volunteering Needs Support. Here’s What People Are Saying.

The Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL), together with four other civil society organizations, held a public consultation on the topic of a law to promote volunteering in Bulgaria. Over 130 participants took part in two consecutive events – on March 18 and April 1, 2025 – including volunteers, representatives of organizations, lawyers, and civic activists from across the country. The consultations were held in a hybrid format, both in-person and online in order to reach as many engaged people as possible.

It’s time for action, support 10 proposals on how to promote volunteering in Bulgaria. Support the PETITION HERE.

The reason: In the 51st National Assembly, three draft laws for promoting volunteering are being considered, proposed by GERB-SDS, BSP-OL, and PP-DB. For the first time in years, there is a real opportunity for a law to be adopted that would provide a stable and sustainable framework for volunteering in Bulgaria.

In this context, BCNL and our partners, namely the Civic Participation Forum Association, TimeHeroes, the Bulgarian Donors Forum, Sofia Platform, and the National Youth Forum, collected the voices, experiences, and ideas of those who work with volunteers every day. The results of the consultation have been submitted to the National Assembly, to be taken into account in the process of unifying the three draft laws.

/See the full text of the letter HERE/

What did people say?

Among the key findings from the consultation, 10 main steps stand out as necessary to ensure there are more volunteers in Bulgaria – who are safe, recognized, and supported:

1. Support for organizers of volunteer activities – so they can recruit, train, and retain more people.
2. Promotion of volunteer causes – so they can reach more citizens and inspire them to get involved.
3. Possibility of volunteer leave – as an incentive for those who donate their time and labor without pay.
4. Training and instruction – volunteers must receive preparation and support for their activities.
5. No minimum age, but with parental consent for children because the desire to volunteer has no age.
6. Recognition of volunteers – in the form of certificates for skills and competencies acquired through volunteering.
7. Support from state institutions – instead of formal involvement, but real partnership and support are needed.
8. Protection for volunteers abroad – especially when they take part in international volunteer programs.
9. Incentives for employers who encourage volunteering among their employees.
10. A law with supportive measures, not administrative burdens – a functioning and encouraging law is needed, one that promotes rather than hinders volunteering.

Why is this important?

Volunteering is solidarity in action. Every initiative, every hand offered without expecting anything in return, helps build stronger communities, a more resilient society, and greater trust among people. That is why, when policies and laws are created in this field, they must be based on the real needs and proposals of those who make volunteering possible.

What comes next?

BCNL will submit the results of the public consultation to the National Assembly, so they can be incorporated into the creation of a unified law to promote volunteering. Our goal is simple – for volunteers and the organizations that support them to have real legal backing in their work.

To ensure there are more volunteers in Bulgaria, we need: support, recognition, training, access, and protection.

It’s time for action – support these 10 proposals to promote volunteering in Bulgaria. Support the PETITION HERE.