Employer Supported Volunteering: Make a Difference in Your Community

Employer Supported Volunteering offers businesses the opportunity to empower their employees to get involved in local volunteering, giving back to the community while boosting team spirit and fostering a culture of social responsibility.

Whether it’s mentoring young people, lending a hand at food banks, participating in environmental projects or supporting charitable initiatives such as shoe box appeals, there are countless ways for your organisation to make a positive and lasting impact.

Many businesses incorporate Employer Supported Volunteering into their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies, recognising the substantial benefits for both their teams and the wider community.

If you are an employer interested in collaborating with third sector organisations—such as charities, social enterprises, or community groups—we would love to hear from you. 

Please get in touch via email at: volunteering@highlandtsi.org.uk.

For businesses and companies looking to make a lasting social contribution, Volunteering for Impact enables a deeper form of involvement. Employers can support charities and community groups by offering specialised expertise, resources or skilled labour, tailored to specific projects or community needs.

Unlike traditional volunteering, this isn’t tied to a strict time frame - it’s about making a tangible, sustainable impact on projects that align with the company’s values.

By engaging in Volunteering for Impact, companies can:

• Leverage their strengths to contribute effectively, from mentoring schemes to hands-on community projects.

• Boost employee morale and satisfaction by providing opportunities for staff to use their expertise in ways that make a real difference.

• Enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, demonstrating a commitment to positive change while strengthening their brand reputation.

• Develop deeper relationships with communities, building trust and fostering long-term connections that benefit both businesses and society.

At the Volunteer Academy we can help match businesses with the right organisations - those that resonate with their mission and objectives. Whether it’s through skills-based volunteering, long-term initiatives or targeted project support, we facilitate connections that ensure businesses create lasting, measurable impact.

Together, we can drive positive change and create stronger communities, making corporate volunteering a truly transformative experience for both businesses and the people they support.

Many employers recognise the value of giving back to their communities. Through Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV), companies can offer employees a set amount of time per year to dedicate to volunteering. This approach enables businesses to play an active role in supporting social good while giving employees the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

This time can be used to support specific charities, social enterprises, community causes that resonate with the organisation’s mission, or even opportunities tied to skills development. Whether it’s sharing professional expertise or lending a helping hand, Employer Supported Volunteering benefits employees and communities alike.

Beyond benefiting local communities, Employer Supported Volunteering provides valuable advantages to both employees and businesses:

• Skill development: Employees can gain new competencies, leadership experience, and practical knowledge through volunteer work.

• Team engagement: Volunteering as a group fosters collaboration and strengthens workplace relationships.

• Enhanced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social impact.

• Boosted employee morale and job satisfaction: Staff feel more fulfilled knowing their workplace supports their desire to contribute to meaningful causes.

By integrating volunteering into company culture, businesses can create long-lasting partnerships with non-profits and community organisations, helping to address social challenges while reinforcing their own values.

Employer Supported Volunteering is about creating a lasting impact and fostering a workplace where employees feel empowered to drive positive change.

Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) Guidelines

For Employers, Employees, and Third Sector Organisations

Foreword

Welcome to the Highland Volunteer Academy’s Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) Guidelines. This resource is designed to empower employers, employees, and third sector organisations to develop meaningful and sustainable ESV programmes. By facilitating collaboration and community engagement, we aim to create volunteering experiences that benefit individuals, organisations, and the wider Highland region.

Purpose of This Guide

This guide provides practical steps, best practices, and tools to help you launch, manage, and grow ESV initiatives. Whether you are new to ESV or seeking to develop existing programmes, you’ll find advice and resources tailored to the Highland context.

What is Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV)

ESV refers to businesses and organisations supporting their staff to volunteer in the community. This may be called corporate volunteering, employee volunteering, or workplace volunteering. ESV can take many forms, from team challenges and skills-based projects to ongoing partnerships and virtual volunteering. Programmes may offer paid time off, team-building opportunities, or support for individual volunteering interests.

The Benefits of ESV

For Employees:

• Professional development and skills enhancement

• Team building and networking

• Improved wellbeing and sense of purpose

• Recognition and personal achievement

For Employers:

• Enhanced staff engagement and retention

• Improved organisational reputation and CSR/ESG reporting

• Stronger community relationships

• Increased productivity and reduced absenteeism

For the Community:

• Access to new skills and resources

• Increased capacity to achieve goals

• Broader volunteer base and community ambassadors

Getting Started: Key Steps

1. Review Your ESV Policy:
       Ensure your organisation has a clear ESV policy. If not, use our template to create one

2. Secure Leadership Support:
       Gain buy-in from management and key stakeholders

3. Start Small:
       Pilot a manageable programme and scale up based on feedback and success

4. Develop an Action Plan:
       Include a risk assessment, resource allocation, and clear objectives

5. Appoint a Coordinator:
       Designate a point of contact to oversee ESV activities

6. Engage Participants:
       Involve employees in planning and decision-making to foster ownership

7. Celebrate Achievements:
       Recognise and publicise successes internally and externally

8. Review and Improve:
       Regularly assess impact and refine your approach

ESV Project Models

• One-day team challenges

• Individual or ongoing volunteering

• Skills-based/pro bono projects

• Volunteer taster days

• Fundraising activities

• Virtual or e-volunteering

• Volunteer activity days

• Long-term partnerships

Best Practices for Success

• Keep volunteering voluntary: Participation should always be by choice.

• Avoid tokenism: Ensure activities are meaningful and have an identified impact.

• Maintain momentum: Regularly communicate and refresh opportunities.

• Foster inclusivity: Design projects accessible to all employees.

• Build strong partnerships: Develop clear agreements with third sector partners, outlining roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Managing ESV Programmes

• Define volunteer roles and provide thorough inductions

• Offer relevant training (e.g.,safeguarding, manual handling)

• Match volunteers to roles based on skills and interests

• Support and recognise volunteers throughout their journey

• Gather feedback and use it to improve future initiatives

• Ensure appropriate insurance, facilities, and support are in place

Evaluation and Impact

• Set clear objectives and outcomes for each ESV project

• Use feedback and data to measure success and inform reporting

Share impact stories with stakeholders to build ongoing support

Templates & Resources

• ESV Policy Template

• Risk Assessment Template

• Partnership Agreement Template

• Communication Templates (e.g., invitation, thank you, decline letters)

• Planning and Review Tools

Please contact the Volunteer Academy Team to assist with any templates that you require, a selection of these can be found on the Volunteer Academy website.

Volunteer Academy Team Support

The Volunteer Academy Team is dedicated to providing support for all your Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) needs. We are available to discuss your ESV requirements and offer tailored guidance to help you achieve your volunteering objectives. Additionally, we can facilitate introductions between Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) and employers seeking meaningful engagement opportunities.

To further promote ESV initiatives, we are pleased to feature projects and success stories on our website and across our social media channels, helping to raise awareness and showcase the impact of your volunteering efforts. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the team for assistance or to explore collaborative opportunities. Email us at: volunteering@highlandtsi.org.uk.

Glossary

• ESV: Employer Supported Volunteering

• VIO: Volunteer Involving      Organisation

• TSO: Third Sector Organisation

• CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility

• ESG: Environmental, Social, Governance