The Year of the Volunteer was officially launched today by the chancellor Gordon Brown and the home secretary Charles Clarke when they switched on the campaign website, which will provide people with information on volunteering opportunities throughout the country.

According to the 2003 Home Office Citizenship Survey, more than 26 million people in England and Wales engaged in 1.9 billion hours of voluntary work – the equivalent to one million full-time employees, and worth £22.6 billion a year to the economy. The aim of the Year of the Volunteer campaign is to reward these people as well as encouraging more to participate.

The Home Office has awarded £1m to both Community Service Volunteers and Volunteering England to run the scheme, which will focus on a different theme each month of the year, beginning with the health sector in January. There will also be a Volunteers Week in June and Make a Difference Day in October.

Mr Brown said: “The strength of Britain lies in the great strength of our voluntary and community organisations. Volunteers give their time and talents selflessly, and Year of the Volunteer will emphasise just how important volunteering and voluntary action is.”

For more information, visit www.yearofthevolunteer.org