Employer-supported Volunteering (ESV)
Employer-supported volunteering (ESV) or corporate volunteering is a scheme where an employer gives employees the opportunity to volunteer, with its support.
How it works
Employer-supported volunteering may be in the form of time off for individual volunteering, or in a programme developed by the employer, such as an on-going arrangement with a community partner. The scheme benefits both the employer and employees at the same time as supporting the wider community.
How your business will benefit
- You will increase public awareness of you and your people.
- You will demonstrate commitment to your local community, building up both your reputation and profile.
- Your staff will develop skills and a real sense of accomplishment, and thus improve their morale and loyalty.
- You can motivate and support your employees by offering resources to help them get involved in causes they care about.
How the community benefits
- By bringing employers closer to the community with opportunities for employers/employees to find out about local issues.
- By maximising the impact of voluntary activity through access to more volunteers and skills.
- By providing an opportunity to widen networks.
- By creating ways to harness skills, knowledge and energy for the benefit of the community.
- By creating ways to find common solutions between the voluntary and business sectors.
- By increasing the opportunities for people from different backgrounds to work together.
How ESV helps the voluntary sector
- By bringing new and valuable skills, as well as a wealth of knowledge.
- By bringing a fresh perspective and by providing access to teams of volunteers who can plan and carry out major tasks.
- By improving understanding between the voluntary and business sectors.
- By fostering long term relationships.
- By helping raise the profile and increase public awareness of community organisations.
- By increasing understanding between people from different backgrounds and cultures.
- Through partnering with a key voluntary organisation, such as ourselves, it can ensure voluntary support is going where it’s needed.
What your employees will get out of it
- They will have the opportunity to try volunteering in a fun and friendly way.
- They will be offered training and their skills will be developed.
- They will have the opportunity to meet new people and serve the community.
- They will get a managed volunteering experience with briefing, advice and support from us.
- Their needs will be taken into account by careful structuring of the volunteering opportunities offered to them.
What an employee volunteer might do
- Offer practical help to conservation organisations.
- Deliver a Social Networking workshop to local groups.
- Help local groups with designing and setting up a website.
- Give help with computer systems and with networking computers, etc.
- Help develop a project and a business plan.
- Give advice on marketing and publicity.
- Help a group develop a fundraising strategy.
- Become a charity trustee.
- Provide HR support to a small charity by helping them review and update their general HR policies.
- Give inspiring talks to groups of young people about careers, or act as a mentor.
Your next step
If you are interested in more information about how we can help your employees volunteer locally, you can contact us to arrange an initial discussion.
You can also download our leaflet on ESV schemes (PDF) that summarises the information on this page. You may freely print and distribute this leaflet to interested staff or contact us for printed copies.
ESV in action
Dalcour Maclaren
In spring 2024, the Bristol Office of the environmental company Dalcour Maclaren spent a morning volunteering at the Krunch Thornbury Youth Club, a fantastic community organisation dedicated to supporting young people by helping them develop essential life skills and build confidence through a variety of programmes and activities.
The team pitched in to help get Krunch ready for summer camps and workshops. The members put gardening and DIY skills to the test by building a sturdy shed for storage space and weeding the grounds to ensure a safe and clean environment for the children. They wrapped up their hard work with some well-deserved bacon sandwiches.
Ultimate Finance
The Relationship Management team from Ultimate Finance in Bradley Stoke took advantage of the lovely weather to help out at the Rudgeway Donkey Sanctuary as part of a team building day.
Having been referred by us, the team started their day by mucking out the stables and refreshing the hay, then bagging up the poo ready for sale to the public as fertiliser. They filled up water and feed buckets, and then in the afternoon they brought the donkeys in from the fields and back into their pens.
Lesley, one of the volunteers, said, “We didn’t know donkeys liked extra-strong mints, but, along with apples and carrots, they wolfed them down. The donkeys were so friendly and Jean, the owner, is such a lovely lady and was so grateful for our help. We are planning to go back again.”