Employer-supported schemes for volunteering involve 1.5m employees in England and Wales, whose time is worth £1.1bn, according to a government report published on October 5. Employer Supported Volunteering and Giving also found that 2.8m people participated in employer-supported schemes for giving. Finance companies were more likely than other sectors to have both volunteering and giving schemes, with organisations in health and social work, wholesale and retail and construction least likely. Contact Tony Munton, Home Office 020 7273 2084 (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk)
Making a difference
Thirty volunteers from Lloyd’s spent November 5 redecorating a community centre in the borough of Tower Hamlets, as part of Community Service Volunteers’ nationwide Make a Difference Day. Contact Melanie Batley, Lloyds, 020 7327 5125 (http://www.lloyds.com)
Faith in charity
Nearly nine-tenths (87%) of US employees believe it is important for companies to offer volunteer opportunities for their employees, while benefits, according to a survey on corporate community involvement published on October 6 by Deloitte & Touche USA. Of the 2,169 adults interviewed, more than nine-tenths (92%) thought it was important for companies to make charitable contributions or to donate products and/or services to non-profit organisations in the community. Three-quarters (72%) would choose to work for a company that supports charitable causes when deciding between two jobs with the same location, responsibilities, pay and benefits. Contact Lori Grey, Deloitte & Touche 00 1 212 436 2603 (http://www.deloitte.com)
Employee recognition
mm02 held its first community awards event on October 12, to celebrate the achievements and contributions employees have made in their communities working in partnership with charities. mm02 says active participation by its people in community projects is a key way to developing the attitudes and behaviours that support a strong corporate responsibility ethos. Contact Simon Gordon, mm02 01753 628 402 (http://www.mmo2.com)
Making the business case
More than four-fifths (88%) of Barclays managers see employee volunteering as an effective team-building exercise, according to research announced on November 4. The results of a study into employee volunteering at Barclays highlights the benefits and positive impact of volunteering for both the individual and the company in terms of improving key skills, as well as for recruitment and retention. Managers say that the biggest improvements in the 20,000 employees who took part in community activities were in communications (61%) and leadership (56%). More than half (56%) of those volunteering said that their decision-making skills had improved. Contact Chris Tucker, Barclays 020 7699 5000 (http://www.barclays.co.uk)
In brief
Unilever took advantage of disruptions caused by a move to temporary premises while its headquarters are refurbished to encourage staff to take part in community engagement projects. InsideOut – People in the community involved 200 members of staff, who took part in a total of 13 projects around London over two days. Contact Jane Williams, Unilever 020 7822 5998 (http://www.unilever.com)
More than 3,500 UPS employees took part in the second annual Global Volunteer Week, which began on October 18. This year UPS employees pledged more than 13,000 volunteer hours, tripling the contribution they made in 2003. Contact Rebecca Treacy-Lenda, UPS 00 1 404 828 8396 (http://www.ups.com)
Sainsbury’s presented this year’s Local Heroes awards on November 10, in recognition of the voluntary work undertaken by its employees in their own time. The winners of each category of award received a certificate and £300 for their charity partner. Contact Sue Mercer, Sainsbury’s, 020 7695 7390 (http://www.sainsburys.co.uk)
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