Chancellor Gordon Brown promised measures to boost corporate and youth volunteering in his pre-budget report last week.
Brown said he would produce a joint-consultation document with Home Secretary David Blunkett by the end of the year on a company volunteering initiative.
He also announced plans for the piloting of a financial scheme for young people on lower incomes to do a year's community service after leaving school.
It will be based on the Americorps scheme in the US, which has involved more than 250,000 Americans in voluntary work since its launch in 1994.
More than 2,100 not-for-profit organisations take part in the scheme.
The Active Community Unit is due to release more information about the initiatives this week.