Drammen municipality opens nominations for Volunteerism Prize

Drammen municipality has opened nominations for its 2026 Volunteerism Prize, which awards 40,000 NOK to individuals or groups performing unpaid community work. The award ceremony is scheduled for December 5 at Drammen City Hall. Previous winners include Bydelsmødrene Drammen, a group of women, primarily from minority backgrounds, recognized for their role as community bridge-builders.

Meanwhile, concerns are being raised regarding the stability of volunteer-led organizations in Norway. Elizabeth Chigwida of the Norwegian Handicap Federation (HBF) Hordaland noted that local chapters are increasingly dependent on unpredictable gift funds from local banks to maintain activities. Unlike larger organizations that receive steady state operational grants, HBF must dedicate significant volunteer capacity to repeatedly applying for project funds, foundations, and grants to support children with disabilities and their families.