“The State of Salzburg’s Servicestelle Ehrenamt: A Resource for Volunteer Organizations and Informal Workers”

​Dhe Servicestelle Ehrenamt of the State of Salzburg is there for all questions and concerns for more than 7,000 clubs and informal workers and all questions that arise on the subject of volunteering open up here. “Popular topics are events, the constitution of clubs, the contact persons at the district authorities or questions about the statutes,” explains Christina Geitner. She has been in charge of the service center since autumn 2021.

Volunteer insurance important support

However, one of the most important issues for Christina Geitner and her team is new insurance, because since January 2022 informal volunteers have also been covered by the state’s insurance cover. “Now for the first time, volunteers who work outside of a club or organization for the benefit of society in Salzburg are also insured. This is often the case, especially in the social and health sectors,” emphasizes Geitner.

​Close exchange with volunteers

In addition to providing advice over the phone, Christina Geitner is also on site and meets the voluntary organizations in the course of networking meetings. “The next time we will meet in July. The topics are everything that concerns the volunteers,” says Geitner, who also had to smile when she received a few inquiries. “For example, the founding of a donkey breeder’s association. However, this was not realized in the end because of too few people and animals.”

Clubs use the service point

According to Christina Geitner, it is primarily the folk culture associations that use the voluntary service point. But also the volunteer center as well as social institutions and civil protection services often ask her. “We look forward to every contact on the subject of volunteering and can quickly and unbureaucratically provide the right answers to the satisfaction of the volunteers,” says Geitner. REP_230525_90 (msc/mel)