Each partner
country set up a national expert group of up to 10 experts
in the field. These expert groups collected the research data feeding
into the seven national research reports. Third country nationals
were involved at all stages of the project. Representatives of the national
expert groups did contribute to the preparation of the three INVOLVE seminars,
as well as participated in them. This research collection was carried out
through the use of existing literature, surveys of relevant stakeholders,
personal interviews and, in the case of Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands,
Germany, England and Spain, through small primary research projects. The results
and conclusions of this work were presented at each of the INVOLVE seminars,
in order to instigate a trans-national debate.
Themes of the research included:
Facts and
figures on volunteering and immigration in the 7 countries.
The concept
of integration and the attitude of migrants towards volunteering.
Barriers
that prevent migrants from volunteering.
Good practice
that helps overcome these barriers.
Role of local,
national and EU policies and programmes to support migrant volunteer involvement.
Partnership
models between stakeholders.
2)
Three INVOLVE seminars
During the implementation
of the INVOLVE project, 3 interlinked information seminars
were organised bringing together stakeholders in the field (migrant organisations,
host-community organisations, relevant NGOs, public authorities at all levels,
the media, representatives of the private sector ) and representatives of
the national expert groups. The information seminars presented analysed results
of on-going “action research”, allow for exchanges of best practice
and encouraged the creation of partnerships between stakeholders. These seminars
that took place in Wolverhampton (England), Valencia (Spain) and Deventer
(Netherlands) were also of key importance for the formation of a transnational
network.
link to seminar page
3) Final
project report
The
results of both the action research on national level and the outcomes of
the INVOLVE seminars fed into the final INVOLVE project report that
compares and contrasts the situations in the various Member States regarding
volunteering by third country nationals and its impact on integration and
aspects of social exclusion. The report is available in the 6 languages of
the project.
link to seminar page