What volunteering is and what rights volunteers have

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law defines volunteering as activities of general interest that are altruistic, free and unpaid, carried out through public or private nonprofit organizations. One-off help given for friendship or neighborliness is excluded, and volunteering can never replace paid work.
2. Activities of general interest include social assistance, civic, educational, cultural, scientific, sports, health, development cooperation, environmental and similar activities.
3. Volunteers have rights such as receiving training and resources, being treated without discrimination, having accident and illness insurance, getting their expenses reimbursed and holding an ID credential. In return, they must keep their commitments, maintain confidentiality, refuse payments and follow the organization's instructions.
4. Organizations must be legally established, nonprofit and have their own legal personality. They must sign a written agreement with each volunteer, take out insurance, cover expenses, provide training and keep a register of volunteers joining and leaving. They are also liable to third parties for damage caused by volunteers.
5. The State will promote volunteering through technical assistance, training, information and awareness campaigns. Volunteers may get discounts on State public transport and State museums, and time spent volunteering can count toward military service or alternative social service in certain cases.
6. The law also applies to volunteers working abroad and to development cooperation volunteers, who must have their subsistence needs covered and illness and accident insurance. Existing organizations had two years to adapt.

Who it affects

• People volunteering in State-wide or supra-regional programs: They have specific rights and duties and must sign a written agreement with the organization.
• Nonprofit organizations that use volunteers: They must meet requirements such as having insurance, covering expenses, providing training and keeping a volunteer register.
• Development cooperation volunteers: They have their own rules: a formal agreement, subsistence resources and illness and accident insurance abroad.
• Spanish State Administration: It must promote volunteering and is liable for damage caused by volunteers in its programs.

Words worth knowing

Sin ánimo de lucro (nonprofit)

An organization that does not distribute profits; everything it earns goes to its purposes.

Personalidad jurídica propia (own legal personality)

The organization legally exists on its own and can hold rights and obligations.

Responsabilidad extracontractual (liability outside a contract)

The duty to pay for damage someone causes to others, even without a contract.

Prestación social sustitutoria (alternative social service)

Social work performed instead of military service by conscientious objectors.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries