Volunteering: the heart of our society

02/26/2026 | Commitment & interesting facts

In (Upper) Austria, social life in its current form would hardly be conceivable without the commitment of volunteers. Many associations, initiatives and social institutions rely on people who contribute their time and energy free of charge, be it in sports clubs, cultural projects, neighbourhood help, charitable campaigns or emergency and rescue services. Without this commitment, a large part of social interaction would simply not exist or would not function.

40% of the population in Upper Austria is involved in voluntary work

Around 600,0001⁾ Upper Austrians do voluntary work in their free time. An impressive figure that shows how deeply rooted the sense of community is in the region. This commitment goes far beyond the mere fulfilment of tasks: volunteers create meeting places, strengthen social cohesion and make a significant contribution to ensuring that social offerings remain accessible to all people. Volunteering is not just about taking on tasks, but also about taking responsibility for the common good and helping others.

Diverse areas of volunteering

Volunteering is as colourful as society itself. People get involved in social projects, cultural initiatives, environmental and nature conservation groups, youth work or rescue services. Even small, everyday commitments such as helping at the parish flea market, supporting elderly neighbours or helping out at neighbourhood festivals help to make life worth living. In rural areas in particular, many volunteer projects demonstrate an enormous range of creativity and commitment.

Insurance cover for volunteers

Despite all care and passion, accidents or damage can happen during voluntary work - whether it's a mishap when setting up or dismantling a festival stand, an accident at an event or unintentional damage caused to third parties. Oberösterreichische Versicherung AG has been providing special insurance cover for many years so that volunteers are not left to fend for themselves. The so-called "protective shield for volunteers" offers nationwide accident, liability and legal protection for volunteers. This cover automatically applies when carrying out voluntary work and includes protection against claims for damages and financial benefits in the event of accidents.

In addition, the organiser's liability insurance provides protection when organising events. It covers additional risks that go beyond the general protective shield and thus offers both the organiser and the people involved added security.

#It is #schongenial that the Upper Austrian insurance company does not leave the many volunteers alone in the event of an emergency.

¹⁾ Source: Statistics Austria, Survey on volunteering 2025