As we speak, millions of people worldwide are donating their time and expertise by volunteering in their local community or further afield. Volunteering allows you to give something back, whilst providing you with the chance to make new friends, uncover hidden skills and talents, have fun and, of course, make a difference. 

The 2011 European Year of Volunteering will see civil society organisations and public bodies all over Europe working to give these hard-working volunteers the visibility they deserve - and to encourage anyone with a bit of spare time to get involved. 

Volunteering may sound impractical to those new to the idea, but there are hundreds of ways to contribute. From helping in a soup kitchen, to organising a local car-sharing scheme, to working online with local communities in developing countries – the number of options means there is sure to be a project to match your schedule and interests. Remember, even the smallest of actions can make a difference.

To kick off the 2011 European Year of Volunteering, Gellis has created Top Ten Volunteering Tips – providing practical suggestions on how to get involved in your local community. 

For further information, follow this link and select your country of residence: 

http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/annexes-citizenship/doc1069_en.htm