It all starts with an idea. When Aarhus became European Volunteering Capital (EVC) in 2018 the question was rising, “Why not Trondheim?” Trondheim has a lot to offer too and a lot to learn from Europe. We have 14 very active volunteer centers that act as neighborhood- HUBs and community centers while promoting volunteerism. Trøndelag has the highest number of sports teams in all of Norway and in Trondheim alone one finds 1500 volunteer organizations. More than 50% of the people of Trondheim are involved in volunteering in one form or another. This is something to be proud of and to show to the rest of the country and Europe. 

Based on this the decision was taken to compete for the title of EVC 2023. Trondheim was the first Norwegian city to send an application to the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) in Brussels. Previous winners were for example Barcelona, Lisboa, London, Sligo, Kosice and Padova. During the annual CEV Volunteering Congress in Berlin (EVC 2021) our delegation consisting of Cecilie Hammond Spark (International leader, Trondheim kommune), Trygve Fætten (Adviser and Volunteering Coordinator, Trondheim kommune, Arrangementskontoret) , Knut Meinert Kiplesund (Advisor to the Municipal Director’s professional staff) and Kjell Bjarne Helland ( Organization manager Trøndelag Sports Circle in the Norwegian Sports Confederation) represented Trondheim and our aspiration for the title. Our city presented itself in the video below. 

The competition was impressive: Asti in Italy, Birgu in Malta and Oeiras in Portugal all had applied as well. However, in the end Trondheim convinced the juries by presenting them, “who we are and what we do”. During the awarding ceremony of the volunteer price 2021 in Studentersamfunnet which was broadcasted live from Berlin, Trondheim’s municipal director Morten Wolden received the good news: Trondheim has been chosen as the European Volunteering Capital 2023. This is a news that we can be very proud of!