By: Gerard Lohuis, Managing-director P60

The around hundred volunteers are the backbone of P60, which has the mandate to be a secure place for young people to spend their time, learn and entertain themselves. A security staff is available and safety measures and protocols are an important part in ensuring smooth running of activities.

It all started in 2001. The impetus behind the creation of P60 is derived from the lobbying activity of local activists who, in the nineteens, where claiming a space dedicated to future generations. This group was able to convince the municipality that, in 2001, inaugurated the music venue in the newly designed city centre and agreed to structurally fund its activities by 40%.
From the beginning it was clear that, financially, we only could pay a small staff so we needed a lot of volunteers.
After a request in local media, more than 60 young adults came on the first meeting, some months before the opening in november 2001.
They decided that the venue had to take its name P60 from the previous city square where the centre is located, Plein 1960, which was their hang-out place.

The original group of activists were the first to take part in the creation of the cultural centre by being involved as volunteers. The interest and sense of belonging and ownership to the initiative was centainly an important element in creating a culture of participation around P60 also for future generations of volunteers.

Volunteers are the heart of P60: the youngest is 16 and the oldest over 60 years old, with an average of 25. P60 has created a system and an organisational chart that enables the participation of around 100 volunteers each year, who ware involved in programming, production and they work at the bar. The “wheel chart” represents an organisational model where all parties involved are equally important in keeping the wheel moving forward: the theam, the volunteers and other stakeholders.

Volunteers have to cover a minimum of two shifts per month. They must sign a contract, where they promise to follow the rules, to attend their shifts (or arrange cover) and to respect everyone. Volunteers receive a warning after one offence and after two offences they can no longer be volunteers.
New volunteers are recruited by existing volunteers with slogans like “Why not stand on the other side of the bar?”.

P60 represents an opportunity for younsters of all ages and ethnic groups to learn working skills but also soft and social skills. Being part of P60 is a way for them to find jobs more easily, being P60 is a good reference for employers.

The opportunities for aggregation and personal growth offered by P60 have a positive impact on the lives of volunteers. Many stay for 3 years but keep connected for much more years cause P60 feels like their second home.

The ability to consistently aggregate and involve a large number of volunteers in over 20 years of activity is an index of P60’s ability to have an impact on people.