Employer Supported Volunteering

Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) is where the employees of an organisation take paid time off to volunteer during work hours (also known as Corporate Volunteering or Business Employee Volunteering). 

Business employees – either individually or as a team - can take their volunteer leave to support a charity or community group of their own choice, or to take up an opportunity provided by their company. 

There are lots of ways your charity can utilise the power of ESV, from group to individual volunteering, from a regular hourly slot to ad hoc days. The impact of ESV is great – for charity, volunteers and businesses alike. Get in touch with us to find out more, or visit the Team London volunteering site. 

• skills-sharing is a popular way for businesses to promote their own ESV. If you have a skills gap in your charity, need training or advice in a specific area, or simply want the help of an expert, then turn this into a volunteering opportunity. An individual professional, or perhaps a small team of specialists, could volunteer to hold a workshop with one of your teams, for example
• group volunteering is a great way to get those larger jobs done, such as DIY, gardening, or clearing out unused space. The groups don’t need to be large, starting with as few as five people. Team London regularly have requests from businesses of all sizes and all industries to support in these more labour-intensive roles; perfect to help with those 
• ESV is also a good way to engage with a new business in your area and to develop a relationship which can bear fruit in other ways. 

If you would like to find out more about how to create an ESV role contact us. 

ESV is good for your business and your staff. People who volunteer through work are twice as likely to rate the business culture as positive, be satisfied with career progression and happy with their employer. They also feel loyal and proud to work for the company. You could lead by example and encourage your suppliers and clients to sign up to the Mayor’s Corporate Commitment too.

• group volunteering is a great way to build stronger teams and use skills to do something for your community. Whether you want to get out and be active for a day with DIY or gardening, or share your skills as a team in a workshop
• your employees have skills that could be invaluable to small charities who may have skills gaps. Why not encourage your staff to mentor, or to share their expertise and guidance?
• visit our site where we can help you find an opportunity that best suits your needs. Go to the ‘I want help with’ drop down menu and select ‘Employee volunteering’
• individual employees should register as a volunteer which will allow them to record their volunteering.