Accreditation of civic service and voluntary associations

Civic service is a voluntary commitment, lasting 6 to 12 months, open to young people aged 16 to 25.

This civic service aims to carry out a mission of general interest. It gives rise to the payment of an allowance paid by the State and a supplement (in kind or in money) paid by the host organization

The volunteer also benefits from comprehensive social protection.

• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) under French law (association, union or federation of associations, foundation, endowment fund)
• Legal persons of public law located in France or abroad (State, local authorities, Banque de France,...)

On the other hand, a cultural, political association, a congregation, a company foundation or a company committee may not be accredited to organize civic service.

In order to obtain approval, the organization must fulfill the following conditions or provide the following information:

• Have at least 1 year of existence (unless waived by the Civic Service Agency)
• Please indicate the number of volunteers envisaged, the conditions for their support and, where appropriate, the specific conditions for the support of volunteers who are under 16 years of age
• Propose Missions of General Interest Identified as a Priority for the Nation and demonstrate the ability to exercise them in good conditions
• Have an organization and means compatible with the training, support and care of volunteers, including when missions take place abroad
• Present a balanced budget and a sound financial situation over the last 3 financial years (unless the civic service agency grants a derogation over the lifetime).

Since 1^er in january 2022, the authorization of civic service and voluntary associations is also subject to compliance with the republican contract of employment.

Thus associations or foundations recognized as being of public interest must subscribe to this contract and commit to the following principles:

• Liberty, equality, brotherhood and dignity of the human person,
• Symbols of the Republic (French language, tricolor flag and national anthem)
• Do not call into question the secular nature of the Republic
• Refrain from taking any action which would undermine public order

The organization duty, by any means (e.g. by amending its statutes), inform its members of such commitments.

Finally, the organization duty also add, at its request, the human and material resources that it intends to mobilize to implement the training program, provided under the theoretical component of civic and civic training.

The application for approval shall be made online on the Civic Service Agency website.

To do this, the organization must create a organization account on the Agency's website.

Application for or renewal of a civic service appointment

The application for on-line approval shall be sent automatically to the competent instructing department.

Following the automatic transmission of the application, approval shall be granted by the following persons:

• President of the Civic Service Agency, if it is a national accreditation
• Prefect of region, if the applicant organization carries out an activity at regional or interdepartmental level
• Prefect of department, if the applicant organization is active at departmental or local level

The civic service commitment authorization shall be issued for Up to 3 years renewable.

The approval shall specify in particular the following information:

• Duration of approval
• Mission or civic service mission program
• Level of authorization for the recruitment of volunteers from the recognized organization and the period during which such recruitment may take place
• Maximum number of volunteers that the recognized organization is authorized to make available to one or more non-approved third-party legal persons

The accreditation may set recruitment targets with the aim of ensuring that successful volunteers have a diverse profile.

Where the organization has applied for authorization to draw up civic service contracts of less than 24 hours per week, the authorization shall specify whether such derogation is granted.

The organization shall report to the approval authority any changes to its statutes (or other instruments of incorporation) or to the conditions under which volunteers are accommodated.

The organization reports annually to the Civic Service Agency on its activities.

The Civic Service Agency and its territorial delegates may, at any time, monitor the conditions for the exercise of the mission. The body must keep at the disposal of the administration the necessary supporting documents.

The administration may withdraw the approval of an organization in any of the following situations:

• One of the conditions necessary for the granting of approval is no longer satisfied
• Infringement of public policy or public morals or failure to comply with the general obligations incumbent on the body
• Serious ground for infringement of the civic service contract of a volunteer
• Serious grounds relating to the conditions under which activities constituting an immediate danger to the health or safety of the volunteer or of third parties are carried out
• Judicial winding-up of the body

Where the administration refuses to grant approval, it shall give reasons for its decision.

The body may without delay comply or provide evidence justifying its compliance within 2 months.

Once approved, the organization must publish its mission offers on the website of the Civic Service Agency.

Civic Service: Publish Mission Offers

Young people can apply directly online for the proposed assignments. The organization is notified by e-mail of each application.

The recognized organization shall provide information on the application Elisa any new contract to enable the volunteer to be compensated during his mission.

To be able to connect to the Elisa app, it is necessary to have previously obtained an identifier and a password from the Service and Payment Agency (ASP), responsible for managing the payment of volunteers. To do this, the organization must submit a request for authorization to the regional management of the ASP to which it reports.

The application form shall be annexed to the approval. However, if necessary, the body may request this by telephone or by e-mail to the relevant regional management of the SPA.

Following the sending of the authorization request, the organization receives its personal information (its login and password).

Elisa (Local extranet for compensation and monitoring of the reception of volunteers in civic service)

Once the civic service contract template is completed online on Elisa, it must be printed and signed in two copies, one for the volunteer and one for the host organization.

In the case of local accreditation, a copy of the contract must be sent to the regional academic delegation for youth, engagement and sports (formerly the regional directorate for youth, sports and social cohesion).

The recognized organization shall also print fromElisa civic service contract notification. He must then send it, signed, by post, to the ASP accompanied by the RIB: titleContent the volunteer and, where appropriate, supporting documents concerning the increase in the allowance.

This validates the contract definitively and triggers the payment of the compensation to the volunteer, and the assistance to the organization.

Where the recognized organization makes the volunteer available to a non-recognized organization, an arrangement for making the volunteer available shall be established between the 3 Parties.

A template is available:

Model Volunteer Supply Agreement

The recognized organization receives 2 grants from the Civic Service Agency:

• Monthly help from €100 intended to cover part of the costs of supervision and support for young people
• Single Help from €160 for the organization of civic and civic education