Employer Supported Volunteering
Information for Employers
If you are thinking of starting an employer-supported volunteer scheme, are these some of the questions you are looking for help with.
We are thinking about starting an employer-supported volunteer scheme? How do we do this?
How can we design a scheme that will be of benefit to both the local community and our organisation?
We are not sure of what type of scheme we want in place – what do the terms community investment, learning and development, or 'Charity of The Year'? mean?
What policies/procedures do we need to be in place before we start?
Do we pay our staff travelling expenses?
What can the Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire do to help us with the process – have they got volunteer-involving organisations we can link you with? How would this process work? What resources are needed? Can they help we with information on policies and procedures?
We can help with all of the above questions and our service is free (we welcome donations). We have a database of potential opportunities for general volunteering, and are developing this to include opportunities open to employees. We have lots of information and model documents that can assist if you are thinking about starting an employer-supported volunteering project.
We are very happy to arrange a visit to talk about your requirements in more detail.
Please contact: Lindsay Watts, Volunteer Centre Manager, tel: 01865 251946. Email: vol@ocva.org.uk
Information for Employees
I am interested in taking part in an Employer-Supported Volunteer Scheme. What should I do next?
The first step is to check to see if your employer is operating an Employer-Supported Volunteering Scheme. If not, you may want to provide them with some information on our services - feel free to pass on our details to them. If there is not a scheme in place, and you want to volunteer in your own time, you can always contact us to have a look at the types of volunteering opportunities that may be available.
We have got an Employer-Supported Volunteering Scheme in place in our organisation...what is the next step?
Initially, you need to agree with your employer (Line Manager) that you are ready to look for possible volunteering opportunities.
The Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire can assist you further with finding local opportunities. You are welcome to make an appointment to visit our office, where we hold information on current local current employee volunteering opportunities for Oxfordshire.
Our office is in Floyds Row, St Aldates, Oxford. This is near the police station and Job Centre Plus office. We are open Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 4.30pm.
If you would like to talk to somebody, please contact Lindsay Watts, Volunteer Centre Manager, tel: 01865 251946 or email: vol@ocva.org.uk
inVOLve
The inVOLve project, driven by ROBIN (Responsible Oxfordshire Business Involvement Network) and managed by Oxfordshire and Community Voluntary Action, has been launched to encourage local businesses to engage employees in essential skilled volunteer work. There is a vast range of innovative volunteering opportunities from advising and providing resources in areas such as marketing, PR and website design, to administrative support. The initiative utilises the volunteer’s personal skills and interests as well as professional expertise.
Five companies across Oxfordshire have been the first to sign up to the inVOLve project. BOTTLE PR, Oxford Brookes University, Morgan Cole, Pear Tree Design, and Talkington Bates have all pledged time from staff to help local projects by sharing skills and expertise.
For more information about inVOLve, ROBIN or OCVA volunteering opportunities call 01865 251946.
