Interesting facts about volunteering

• What are the areas of responsibility?
• Are the tasks specifically defined (possibly also what does not belong to them)?
• What working hours are possible?
• Is the time required regulated?
• Is your work clearly separated from the tasks of the full-time staff?
• What agreements have been made regarding the flow of information between you and the organization?

• How will you be introduced? Who is your contact person and what are their responsibilities?
• How can the contact person be reached?
• Is there a trial period (we recommend a trial period of 4 weeks, for example)?
• Are arrangements made with you in case you have to cancel?
• Will you receive proof of your work?
• Are there expectations or hopes that you will occasionally get involved beyond your actual work (e.g. at an event)?

• Can you contribute your opinion and ideas?
• Are travel expenses reimbursed? Can costs be incurred and will they be reimbursed?
• What risks are you insured against (e.g. accident and liability insurance cover)?
• Are further training measures open to you?
• What forms of recognition are offered?

The state government has created a statutory regulation on time off for youth work in order to enable and support working people in their high level of voluntary commitment to child and youth work in Hesse.

Volunteers involved in child and youth work can, under certain conditions, take up to twelve working days a year off for youth work in Hesse.

If the requirements for the leave of absence are met, the salary costs for the period of leave of absence can also be covered.

The requirements for time off and further information on the assumption of wage costs can be found on the website of the Hessian Ministry of Labor, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs:

Employees who volunteer in fire and disaster protection are entitled to time off and continued remuneration for deployments, recovery time after deployments, exercises, training events and other service events that take place during working hours. Private employers can be reimbursed for the loss of wages of their volunteer employees upon application. The application must be submitted to the responsible body, usually the municipality or town responsible for fire and disaster protection, where the volunteer work took place.

Detailed information on the continued payment of wages and salaries, including the application for reimbursement, as well as an information sheet on leave of absence are available on the website of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport for the fire departments in Hesse:

In order to exercise the mandate, the municipal representative is entitled to time off work and compensation for loss of earnings. Irrespective of this, the volunteer must be granted up to two weeks' leave per year to attend further training events related to the mandate.

Honorary judges (lay assessors) receive compensation from the State of Hesse for their work for time missed, loss of earnings, travel expenses, disadvantages in running the household and for the expenses associated with the service.

If honorary judges are employed, they are entitled to leave of absence from their place of work for the period of their honorary work. If honorary judges incur a loss of earnings, they receive compensation for each hour of missed working time in addition to the compensation for missed time.

The Hessian Ministry of Justice and the Rule of Law provides further information on voluntary work in administrative, social and labor courts in the form of guidelines on its website:

The public sector also contributes to strengthening volunteering by reimbursing employees (civil servants and employees) for one working day of compensatory time off per calendar year while continuing to pay their salary. For this, employees must either be in possession of a volunteer card or a youth leader card.

It is important to note that the time off in lieu must be taken in the year of issue, as it cannot be carried over to the following year.

You can find the most important information on the volunteer card here:

A certificate of good conduct provides information on whether or not you have a criminal record.

If a certificate of good conduct states: "Content: No entry", this means that you are not considered to have a criminal record.

Otherwise, the most important information on a final conviction entered in the Federal Central Criminal Register is noted in the certificate of good conduct. For example, the date of the conviction, the offense and the amount of the sentence imposed (prison sentence or fine).

However, not all convictions are included in the certificate of good conduct without further ado. For example, there is usually a certain period of time after which convictions are no longer recorded in the certificate of good conduct. Even minor convictions resulting in a fine of no more than 90 daily rates or a prison sentence of no more than 3 months are generally not listed in the certificate of good conduct, even if they are entered in the Federal Central Criminal Register. Certain sexual offenses are an exception. Suspended juvenile sentences of up to 2 years are also generally not entered in the certificate of good conduct.

Any person who has reached the age of 14 can apply for a certificate of good conduct.

The "extended" certificate of good conduct is a special type of certificate of good conduct that is usually requested if people are or would like to become professionally or voluntarily active in child and youth work. It also contains entries that are of particular importance for the aptitude test for working with children and young people.

The difference to a "simple" certificate of good conduct is that the extended certificate of good conduct also includes sexual offenses that are not listed in the simple certificate of good conduct, but should always be disclosed for the protection of children and young people.

The extended certificate of good conduct is only issued for a limited group of recipients. Anyone applying for it must also present a written request from the body requesting the extended certificate of good conduct.

Further information on the extended certificate of good conduct can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Justice:

Both the extended and the simple certificate of good conduct can be applied for at the registration office of the city or municipality in which you live.

Alternatively, the certificate of good conduct can also be applied for directly online at the Federal Office of Justice. To apply online, you will need an NFC-enabled smartphone and software in addition to your activated online ID card.

Detailed information on the online application can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Justice.

The fee is 13 euros in each case. However, a fee waiver is also possible when applying for voluntary work. This can be applied for directly at the Federal Office of Justice. Important: The application for fee exemption must be submitted to the registration office at the same time as the application for a certificate of good conduct.

How can the volunteer work be verified at the registration office?

For example, via a certificate of voluntary work. The state government has created a sample letter for this purpose, which organizations, associations and institutions can use as a guide.

Accident insurance protects volunteers against the financial consequences that can arise from an accident.

The following generally applies:
The insurance covers all activities with which the helpers are entrusted, including the routes required for this. The insurance cover only applies to the person themselves and does not include compensation for material damage. Statutory accident cover is non-contributory.

Notes:
In the event of an accident, the client must confirm which person was carrying out certain tasks. You should therefore ensure that the organization for which you are working has a list of your activities.

Organizations should check whether volunteers are required to register with the relevant employers' liability insurance association.

Report your accident immediately to the organization for which you were volunteering. If you consult a doctor about the accident, also inform the doctor that you had the accident while carrying out your voluntary work.

You can find detailed information on what the statutory accident insurance covers here:

Liability insurance protects volunteers if they accidentally cause damage to other people or their property. It protects against the costs of compensation claims, legal disputes and claims for damages.

Generally speaking:
Volunteers are usually covered in their voluntary work by their association liability insurance or the organization's liability insurance. With many liability insurance policies, insurance cover is not linked to membership.

You are liable for any damage you cause in the course of your voluntary work. This means that you are liable for any damage or losses incurred as a result of a claim or must compensate for the damage. In many cases, however, recourse claims by the injured person can be passed on to your organization.

Only damage caused intentionally is not insurable.
If this insurance cover does not apply or if none of the aforementioned insurance policies exist, there is a framework agreement between the state of Hesse and SparkassenVersicherung. This applies above all to volunteers in legally non-binding associations, such as interest groups and independent initiatives. Legally independent organizations such as clubs, associations or foundations are not released from their responsibility to provide insurance cover for their volunteers by the framework agreements.

More information and contact details for insurance cover can be found on the website of the State of Hesse:

Pupils can use the certificate supplement to have their voluntary work outside of school, for example in a sports club or in independent youth work, certified. The certificate-like form is attached to the school report.

The certificate supplement contains information on the type and duration of the voluntary work as well as the skills and abilities acquired.

Every pupil who does voluntary work outside of school can have a certificate supplement issued. This can be, for example

• in a sports club or other association
• in independent youth work (for example in a youth association)
• in a municipal or church institution
• in an art or music school
• in nature, landscape or environmental protection
• in a political organization which, through its work, enables pupils to recognize the values of the Basic Law and the Constitution of the State of Hesse.
• in the social or charitable sector.

The certificate supplement can be issued both with the half-year report and at the end of the school year.

The institution or organization in which the volunteer work is carried out is responsible for completing the certificate supplement.

Pupils are either made aware of the possibility of completing the certificate supplement by the institution or organization, for example by the club board, group leader or trainer. Or young people can approach the institution or organization they are volunteering for themselves.

• The certificate supplement is filled out digitally.
• In the free text field on the type and duration of the voluntary activities and, if applicable, the qualification acquired, the institution or organization describes the skills and competencies of the young person and what distinguishes them in the context of their voluntary work. The details provide information about the personal profile.
• The certificate supplement is then printed out and signed by the institution or organization. A stamp can, but does not have to, be added.

In order for the supplementary sheet to be attached to the school report, this must be requested from the school. Pupils of legal age can sign the application themselves. For students who have not yet reached the age of majority, the parents must apply for this. The application form below can be used for this purpose. The signed application is best forwarded to the school by the institution or organization together with the school report form.

The application can also be made without using the form in writing, text form, by telephone or for recording in the secretary's office.

• The completed school report form must be sent to the school no later than six weeks before the school report is issued. The printed and signed certificate supplement can be sent to the school by post by the institution or organization or handed in there.
• The certificate supplement must be forwarded to the school together with the request that the appreciation be attached to the certificate. Pupils of legal age can sign the application themselves. For students who are not yet of age, the parents must sign the application.
• The school confirms the accuracy of the document with the school stamp on the school report sheet and issues the appreciation to the pupil together with the half-year report or at the end of the school year.

By volunteering, young people acquire skills that can be a valuable help to them at school, in their free time and later in their careers. The certificate supplement recognizes and confirms this voluntary work. With this socially and personally important additional qualification, young people can stand out positively when looking for an apprenticeship, an internship or when applying for a place at university.