Volunteering in non-governmental organizations as social policy expression

The article looks into expression of the phenomenon of volunteering in a society, with the focus on the features of voluntary activities in a non-governmental organization (hereinafter – NGO) that provides social services. The article reveals the origins of the NGO and volunteering, discusses the content of NGO activities in the context of social policy. The role of the NGO is analysed with regards to laws of the Republic of Lithuania and the assessment of the changes in legal regulation in the field of voluntary activity is given. The focus on the interconnection between volunteering, social work activities and the activities provided by an NGO allows to model the strategies of how to deal with various social problems with reference to the reduction of social exclusion and strengthening of social community by preparing social workers. Legal regulation of volunteering activities imposes the preconditions for professionalization of NGO activities and more effective implementation of social policy