Host Organisation Accreditation

Host organisation accreditation is carried out in accordance with the Description of the Youth Voluntary Service Programme and the information provided on volunteering.lt.

The accreditation procedure is designed to give all organisations opportunities to improve. Therefore, every organisation that submits an application and meets with an expert will receive recommendations for improving its activities, regardless of the expert’s final decision. This approach aims to ensure that organisations hosting young volunteers continue to develop and respond to the changing needs of young people.

HOW DOES THE ACCREDITATION OF AN ORGANISATION HOSTING YOUNG VOLUNTEERS WORK?

If an organisation already holds valid JST host organisation accreditation and submits an application to renew its accreditation no later than 20 working days before the current accreditation expires, the accreditation process follows Chapter V, Section 5 of the Description of the Procedure for Organising the Youth Voluntary Service Programme. The application must be submitted through the volunteering.lt system. The organisation is assessed solely on the basis of its submitted application, and, if successful, accreditation is granted for four years.

If an organisation does not hold valid JST host organisation accreditation, fails to submit an accreditation renewal application at least 20 working days before its current accreditation expires, or is not granted accreditation during the assessment process, the accreditation process follows Chapter V of the Description of the Procedure for Organising the Youth Voluntary Service Programme. The application must be submitted through the volunteering.lt system.

The accreditation of an organisation hosting young volunteers consists of three stages:

1. Application submission – Organisations wishing to obtain accreditation must complete an application in the volunteering.lt system, providing information about the organisation, its activities and its plans. If an organisation intends to host volunteers at more than one location, a separate application must be submitted for each location.
2. Application assessment and meeting – The organisation’s application is assessed by Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) staff and external experts, who meet with the organisation’s representatives.
   PLEASE NOTE: Due to high demand, priority is given to organisations that already have candidates wishing to become JST volunteers. When submitting an application, please indicate in your accompanying email if you already have one or more prospective volunteers.
   During the meeting, experts speak with the organisation’s representatives, including both administrative staff who may not have direct contact with volunteers and those responsible for implementing the volunteering programme and supporting the volunteers hosted by the organisation.
   The purpose of the meeting is to assess the organisation’s preparedness, capacity and opportunities for improvement.
   IMPORTANT: The accreditation meeting must be attended by both the organisation’s designated volunteer supervisor(s) and the head of the organisation or another representative of its administration.
3. Decision and recommendations – Following the meeting, experts use the information provided in the application and during the meeting to make an accreditation decision and prepare recommendations to support the organisation’s further development.

Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Organisations that are not granted accreditation may reapply for initial accreditation or reaccreditation no earlier than three months later, provided they have implemented the experts’ recommendations.

We encourage organisations to apply for accreditation as early as possible to ensure smooth cooperation and the uninterrupted operation of accredited organisations.

Important information for accredited host organisations wishing to expand their activities

The following information applies to accredited PO that wish to include additional branches in their accreditation, increase the number of volunteers they can host at the same time, or change their volunteer supervisors.

• If an accredited PO wishes to accredit branches operating at different locations and/or in different municipalities, a separate accreditation application must be completed for each location in the JST system.
• If the organisation changes its volunteer supervisor, it should provide the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) with the new supervisor’s contact details.