3 DAYS VOLUNTEERING

SURVIVAL GUIDEThis survival pack covers what to do if David Cameron’s three day volunteering pledge suddenly comes into play. Just been tasked with organizing volunteering for your business with nothing but a Swiss Army knife and a copy of Scouting for Boys? Don’t panic: Benefacto’s got youcovered.

It sounds simple, but work out how many volunteering days or hours to give employees. Decide on a clear name for your leave allowance (e.gCharity Days, Community Days) and then stick to it. This way, employees will know what they’re entitled to and will actually use it. Download our template to get started.

Even with paid leave, your workforce won’t engage in employee volunteering if the management doesn't recognise the value of it. Employee volunteering does wonders for productivity, as well as staff engagement and retention but don’t just take our word for it! Have a look at the statistics here

Work with charities that have a real need for your help. Sometimes the most appealing and convenient charities aren’t necessarily the ones that need most help. There’s no shortage of CSR programmes involving school kids in Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Islington, for example! Think creatively about how you can provide support: pro-bono, workshops, individual volunteering and trusteeship are all really effective ways of giving time.

It’s really important that senior leadership genuinely support volunteering, rather than simply offering it because they have to. To build a true culture of volunteering at your company, think about making sure there’s involvement and engagement at all levels.

Measuring results is crucial in ensuring your volunteering programme is benefitting the community, and it can also be a really useful tool for engaging employees. Seeing evidence of just how much difference you’re able to make through volunteering is really inspiring!

Your staff now have the time – but they still need to be inspired to use it. Volunteering can be extremely personal, so a good way of engaging staff is to offer a range of opportunities so that employees can do something that matters to them. Our blog has plenty of inspiring examples of what volunteers can get up to.

Remember the three Cs; choice, convenience and culture.

Give people a good range of options; make sure that it’s quick and easy for them to do so, and work hard to make sure they feel comfortable asking for time off.

For more tips on how to organise a fantastic volunteering programmevisit benefacto.org or get in touch with us to book a meeting.

The sudden influx of employee volunteers has potential to put huge strain on charities. Choose opportunities carefully; listen to charities about what they actually need; and find creative ways of using your time. This policy has the potential for huge impact, but only if done correctly. Follow the advice here to implement a fantastic employee volunteering programme that will make a real difference in the community.

Organising a volunteering policy, providing a range of good quality opportunities and inspiring staff to actually use them can be a tall order for businesses without a large CSR team, or even a dedicated department. At Benefacto we make life easier by providing a great range of opportunities, managing relationships with charities, and organising marketing campaigns to boost engagement. Get in touch to find out how we can help you!

With hundreds of new businesses implementing volunteering, sharing best practice will be more important than ever. Share your volunteering success stories to inspire other organisations.

Personal stories are also one of the best ways to inspire your colleagues. Isn’t that right, Bear?

“Whether its battling the Siberian wilderness or implementing volunteering, preparing well is thesingle most importantthing you can do.”