Employer Supported Volunteering

Linking corporate volunteers with local groups and third sector organisations

What is ESV?

Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) provides a link between businesses and third sector organisations, so that community projects and charitable organisations can benefit from corporate volunteer support, and businesses can do something positive and give back to their community.
ESV volunteering can either be delivered as a team volunteering day or a skill share. A team volunteering day consists of volunteers spending the day with a local organisation, typically helping with a variety of practical indoor or outdoor tasks.

Alternatively, volunteers can participate in a skill share, where an individual shares their professional skills with an organisation, to work on a specific project in areas such as, finance, HR or social media.
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Two smiling volunteers serve food from behind a counter to a person at a Leeds charity kitchen. Plates in hand, they help their community.

Benefits for everyone involved

Benefits to Volunteers (Employees)

Development of competencies such as creative thinking and problem solving
Networking with new and existing teams
Relationship building and teamwork skills development
Increased understanding of social issues and the third sector in general
Shared sense of achievement and the potential to leave a lasting legacy
Getting to know colleagues outside of the office environment
Increased understanding of the work of the host organisation
Building relationships with local organisations and causes
Opportunity to support host organisation in the future
Demonstrate skills that staff may not be able to show in the workplace

Benefits to Employers

Employee skills development and discovery
Effective investment in the community
Staff attraction and retention
Increased staff morale and reduced sickness leave
Reputation and brand management

A recent study found that 87% of employees who volunteered with their companies reported an improved perception of their employer and a massive 82% felt more committed to the organisation they worked for. (Source: BITC 2011)

Benefits to Host Organisations

Access to new pools of volunteers
Raised profile
Increased partnership working
Skills and resources of employees can help to support projects and initiatives
Building links between the employer and the community
Getting help with projects which may have taken a long time to complete
Potential longer term support from employer/volunteers

Get in touch

If you’d like to find out more, please contact the Volunteering Team.
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