POLICY AND PLANS

Employee Supported Volunteering Policy

An employee supported volunteering policy is a set of guidelines that outlines how employees can engage in volunteering activities in a way that is supported by their employer.

Any ESV policy should link closely with other major company ambitions so that volunteering is seen as part of any broader ambitions and goals around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and social value. This can lead to a greater sense of purpose and unity amongst all employees, resulting in more purposeful and impactful volunteer work.

It plays an important role in setting out an agreed and unambiguous framework for the company and its employees which both ensures all participants are aligned and working towards the same ambitions and also serves as a safety net for the business by identifying and mitigating potential liability and volunteer-linked risks.

An ESV policy usually includes key elements such as types of supported volunteering work, time off and compensation policies, risk management, and reporting and measuring success.

Event planning

Tips for a successful corporate volunteer event:

·       Ask employees and the receiving organisation what they would like to gain from the event so that you can identify (and meet) needs on both sides

·       Set out a clear project scope, plan and anticipated results from the event so everyone involved is clear

·       Include detailed information on the practicalities associated with any event – transport, parking, catering, any other details, any adjustments for mobility etc

·       Assess any event risks or issues and document clearly what they may be and actions you will take to mitigate those risk eg volunteer training

·       Provide information to volunteers about the non-profit so that they can see how their volunteering activity will help support that cause or community.