Are Volunteering Days just another CSR gimmick?
...we’ll let you decide.
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) schemes are crucial for businesses to demonstrate a positive impact on society and the environment. But whether CSR efforts are genuine or not is a hot topic of conversation as many are dubbed as ‘green washing’ or just putting a plaster on an otherwise fragmented reputation.
Here at Giant, we have recently implemented Volunteering Days which we believe are far from being an EVP (Employer value proposition) trend, and here are the reasons why you may want to do the same:
- They make a difference! A recent study by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations reported that 91% of the charities registered in the United Kingdom have no paid staff and rely on volunteer time; Volunteer Days therefore have the potential to create an impact in local communities through a multitude of projects. Here at Giant, we’ve hired an amazing team of people with a diverse set of skills that we believe can have a huge difference in our communities!
- A wellbeing booster! The covid pandemic held a torch to the importance of prioritising staff’s wellbeing after a time of widespread uncertainty. Volunteering can help to reduce stress levels and have a positive impact on employee mental health which should be an employer’s priority. In a national survey on the volunteer experience (2019), over three-quarters of volunteers (77%) reported that volunteering improved their mental health and wellbeing. The Journal of Happiness, a collection of UK based studies, also found that individuals who volunteer reported having better mental health, being happier and more satisfied with their lives than those who didn’t. Those are some pretty amazing benefits right?!
- We can always learn new tricks! Volunteer work provides a valuable opportunity to learn and hone new skills outside of the office. Your employees can get hands-on experience in a new field, or gain experience that could even help them in their role at your organisation! For example, a marketer could learn how to build a social media strategy and manage an online community by volunteering to run a dog shelter’s social media accounts. Or, an employee could hone their communication and leadership skills by overseeing a soup kitchen’s volunteer training program- the options are endless!
- Glow up your work from home environment! Volunteering provides a sense of belonging as it can provide purpose as well as a social network; both are crucial for staff wellbeing. As a majority remote working company, we want our teams to feel like they belong in both our online workplace but also in the community that they physically live and work Staff can also volunteer in ways that bring improvements to the people and environment in their locality. It is fantastic that as a remote business the volunteering of our staff can touch so many communities.
Giant volunteering day spotlight:
Betty Underwood (Events and marketing coordinator)
I took my Volunteering day to go and help out at Southend City Jam- a street art festival that celebrates art as well as community coming together to do big things in our local area.
I spent the day helping artists set up and supporting other volunteers and the public. The art work was absolutely unreal! It was great to be inspired by the artistic talent and creativity as well as to see the logistics of running a wide scale community event.
Getting given a day to do this by Giant is something I’m thankful for and I’m proud to work for a company that supports us(especially as we work remotely) to be a part of our local communities and give back!
Lucy Taylor (Senior Client Service Manager)
Recently, I used my volunteering day to spend the day at the Wilderness Foundation's down to earth community allotment in Chelmsford.
They are a fantastic local charity who run education and therapy programmes to help children, teens and adults reconnect to society and themselves through outdoor facilitation adventures, nature-based therapy, and mentoring.
We spent the day working in the heat to clear a mountain of compost, thorns and nettles! It was great to get the opportunity to feel purposeful and give something back to the local community!
