Employer Supported Volunteering
This type of volunteering can be a good way for you to receive support and build relationships with businesses. However, hosting groups of volunteers requires planning and time to ensure everything is in place and a positive experience is created for all, avoiding problems arising.
What is Employer Supported Volunteering?
Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) is when a business supports its staff to take part in volunteering, usually during working hours and paid as a team or individually.
It can also be part of businesses Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR agenda) or because a team has requested it.
Key considerations
As a charity or community group you need to remember:
- It needs to be mutually beneficial for you, those accessing your services and the business
- The business offer should match your values, mission and needs – not created just for the business
- The activities should provide you with meaningful support which might also include increased capacity/reach and sharing of different skills and knowledge
- Allow sufficient lead time for planning; avoid last-minute arrangements especially if you don’t have everything already in place or an opportunity available
- You should not be out of pocket as result of the business volunteering
Find out why the business wants to get involved. It may include:
- Developing staff skills and competencies
- Improving employee morale and motivation
- Enhancing their reputation in the community
- Building stronger community links
Do bear in mind that some staff may be participating because their manager has encouraged them, so may not know what to expect or what they might want to get out of it.
Getting started
Acton Planning
Share a clear plan with the business in advance, covering:
- The specific activities you want the volunteers to take part in
- The timeframes and time commitment, maybe including a timetable
- The expectations and reasonable notice periods for cancellations
- Any materials required – who will source them and who will cover costs
- Who will have overall responsibility on the day from both sides including named contacts from both sides and who will be present on the day
- A completed risk assessment and risk management procedures, for example safeguarding if there is contact with children or vulnerable adults. Make sure you have the necessary insurance in place.
On the day
The success of the volunteering can depend on the support you provide to the group. At the minimum we would recommend:
- Welcoming the volunteers
- Introducing them to the organisation, including health and safety, the layout of the building/space (including fire exits, toilets, kitchen) and equipment use
- Sharing with them information about your organisation and how their volunteering will impact
- Ensuring a staff member or volunteer is available to support them throughout the day
- Check if they are happy for photos to be taken (adhering to GDPR)
- Let them know if there are different ways to be involved with the organisation as individuals
- Thank them at the end of the day
After the opportunity
- Share feedback – this could be photos, staff and/or service users comments or other volunteers
- Get feedback from the business
- Ask if the business would like to stay in contact for future opportunities be it volunteering or anything else you might be doing – this can be a great way to build your relationship
- Consider any potential publicity or public acknowledgement of their work
- Most importantly thank them again
What to do if you don’t have group opportunities
A lot of organisations are not able to offer group opportunities due to time, capacity, not having appropriate opportunities, priorities or it’s not for them – that’s okay. Remember opportunities should always benefit you.
You might want to explore alternatives with a business:
- Skills-based/pro-bono volunteering – where individuals or a group offer their professional skills or training to support you in a particular area e.g. accountancy, marketing, graphic design, legal, social media, fundraising (this list is not exhaustive). This could be a one-off, as part of project or as and when there is a need.
- Could the staff offer their time individually as part of the ESV or apply independently from their business e.g being a Trustee.