Download Methods Opportunities Aims and Objectives Introduction

Employer Supported
Volunteering (ESV)
is Just the Start….
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Karen Filsell, CHAS Volunteering Development Manager
Gill Levy, CHAS Relationship Manager
Introduction
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is a charity
that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children
and young people with life-shortening conditions. CHAS offers
care in two children’s hospices, Rachel House in Kinross
and Robin House in Balloch, and also provides a home care
service called CHAS at Home.
Outcomes
Outcomes from the project include:
CHAS has a large and dynamic voluntary service and
recognises the value of involving companies through its
Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme. ESV is
a way for companies to engage with CHAS by giving their
employees the opportunity to volunteer their time to CHAS and
complete a specific project. In recent years, CHAS has seen a
significant increase in the number of requests for ESV projects.
In order to accommodate this valuable resource, voluntary
services and relationships management teams worked
together to develop a more strategic response to enquiries.
Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of the ESV project were to:
■
Identify valuable projects for companies to complete
that improve the hospice environment for children and
families, while minimising the impact on the service.
■
Raise awareness of CHAS.
■
Offer creative and interesting opportunities to
help develop meaningful long term partnerships
with companies.
■
Completion of projects, freeing up staff and funds.
■
Developing stronger, more productive, partnerships
with companies.
■
Company employees becoming regular volunteers,
regular donors, or attending events.
■
Companies donated ‘Gifts in Kind’ by bringing
equipment or a donation on the day.
“I had a great time
doing something
worthwhile.”
(Retail ESV volunteer)
Methods
The relationship management team engaged with managers
across the organisation to update ESV processes and
develop a comprehensive calendar of volunteering
opportunities clearly linked to the needs of CHAS.
All enquiries were channelled through the relationship
management team which visited or spoke to each company
to find out more about its charity support and ensure a good
match for ESV.
Opportunities
Most corporate groups wanted to be involved in projects in
the hospice, but gardening and maintenance opportunities
were limited. Creative thinking by voluntary services
managers and hospice teams led to new opportunities,
including companies helping to set up for Hospice
Remembering Days, wrapping Christmas presents,
and putting up or taking down Christmas decorations.
More opportunities were also developed in other parts
of CHAS. In retail, ESV volunteers helped with window
dressing, became secret shoppers, took part in sorting
donated goods and listed goods for sale on the CHAS eBay
shop. In fundraising, companies helped with bucket shakes,
bag packs, and marshalling at large sporting events.
In 2012/2013:
813 hours donated from ESV projects.
£15,240 worth of time donated.
Learning
CHAS has found that the most effective approach to ESV
is to develop a list of available projects at the start of the
year and visit companies to facilitate better matching.
The involvement of staff from voluntary services,
relationship management and local fundraising teams
helped to develop a wide variety of opportunities, good
support, and led to stronger corporate relationships.
“CHAS is taking
initiative in changing
the way everyone thinks
about hospices.”
(Robin House ESV volunteer)
Conclusion
The involvement of ESV volunteers has been beneficial
to children, families and the organisation as a whole.
In addition to the enhancement of the hospice
environment, the significant increase in the number of
groups that CHAS can accommodate has developed
greater corporate support for CHAS.
“A great day.
Lovely to chat to shoppers
and support CHAS.”
(Fundraising ESV Volunteer)
Scottish charity number SC 019724
www.chas.org.uk