The Commonwealth Volunteer Service is a constituent organisation of the Parliament of Bread and Roses.
| Commonwealth Volunteer Service | |
|---|---|
| Constituent of the Parliament of Bread and Roses | |
| Attached | Bureau of Voluntary Service |
| Employees | 790 |
| Headquarters | Commonwealth Volunteer House, Kairi |
The Commonwealth Volunteer Service is a constituent of the Parliament of Bread and Roses, attached to the Bureau of Voluntary Service. It keeps the register of Work Action Groups (known as WAGs), the temporary volunteer organisations formed (or raised) for specific objectives, and lends tools, vehicles and equipment to registered groups. It is headquartered at Commonwealth Volunteer House in Kairi, and has four regional offices in Hetland, Tenerife, Barbados and Paria.
WAGs are formed by a general call for volunteers in municipal newspapers and government gazettes, and participation can be competitive. Any Commonwealth person can petition the creation of a group by submitting a notice to the parliament or their municipality. Once established, participants are relieved of duties for work, school and compulsory service for up to three months, which may be extended with permission of the labour ministry.
Volunteerism is considered a legal occupation in the Commonwealth, and odds are more likely than not that any given person has at least one volunteer gig. Volunteers are highly respected, and being “on the WAG” can benefit social standing and opportunities for employment. The service also keeps a reserve of groups on call for floods, storms and other emergencies.
Department of Work Action Groups
170Registration, placing and inspection of Work Action Groups.
Department of Training
155Training of group leaders and specialist volunteers.
Department of Stores
110Shared tools, transport and premises.
Department of Emergencies
115Mobilisation of groups for floods, storms and other disasters.