From 1-7 June each year it’s Volunteers’ Week. This is a week to highlight all the great work that volunteers do as well as to encourage people to take up volunteering. 

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and there are so many different ways that organisations as well as individuals can get involved. 

Encourage your employees to volunteer

Fans of Plans know that to be a sustainable organisation means getting involved in the local community – after all, that is what your customers and your employees care about, therefore so should your organisation.

It is well known that feeling like part of a community and giving back to others can have great health benefits. Encouraging your employees to take time for volunteering can greatly help with employee engagement and a feeling that the organisation they work for cares about their local environment and wellbeing. 

Of course, you need your employees to do their jobs, but maybe think about giving each of your employees a volunteering day a year, or every half year. This would be a day that they would normally spend at work, but can use this time instead on a volunteering project. Some of your employees might already volunteer in their spare time, but others may not know where to start. This is where your organisation can help them. 

Spreading the word… 

First of all, check out the Volunteers’ Week website: www.volunteersweek.org. They have lots of useful resources and promotional material to help you spread the word to your teams. 

Secondly, check in with your local council. Lots of volunteering opportunities can be found through local authorities. They normally have pages on their website dedicated to volunteering opportunities or signposting on to other public sector organisations.

Finally, why not ask your employees and local community groups about opportunities for volunteering. They may well have a project they need help with that your employees would be suited to, depending on their skills set. Your business could organise for some of your colleagues to help the local scout group repaint their hall; or what about someone from your leadership team giving a talk to other local business about their area of expertise. Perhaps your web designer could give small business owners hints and tips on a user friendly website; or your HR team could go into a local school and offer to give year 11 and 13 leavers job interview practice. The possibilities really are endless! 

 That feel good factor

There is such a great feeling that comes with knowing that you are helping to make a difference to others, and that is what volunteering is all about. It is the ultimate in working well! 

P.s: If you want some other free tips for your personal life, check out the Self Series blog – out fortnightly on Tuesdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Wellbeing Expert, Tamsin Cain. Browse the latest edition here: https://www.makemeaplan.com/news/self-acceptance/