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The University of East Anglia (UEA), has announced the launch of its new Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) policy. Employer Supported Volunteering refers to a programme of employers offering paid time specifically for volunteering. This can be as an individual, in team activities, or in collaborative programmes between the employer and local volunteer involving organisations. If you are wondering what Employer Supported Volunteering is all about, we have some evidence-based information for you.
Evidence shows that Employer Supported Volunteering is more common amongst larger companies, for example, around 70% of FTSE 100 companies already have an ESV programme. However, fewer public sector organisations have such programmes. IVR estimates that fewer than 50% of universities in the UK have an ESV policy and that fewer than 10% of staff in higher education institutions in the UK take up Employer Supported Volunteering opportunities.
There are many different reasons for an employer to offer Employer Supported Volunteering and as many different reasons for an employee to take up the offer. Observers have suggested as potential benefits, for example, improved employee satisfaction, professional development opportunities. meeting professional corporate responsibilities and contributing to communities.
At IVR we have found that an Employer Supported Volunteering programme must be designed so that employees have the practical means to actually take up the opportunity. If that is ensured, relationships can be developed that mutually benefit local volunteer involving organisations, the volunteers and the employers offering such an opportunity to staff.
IVR evidence also suggests that such programmes need to be developed carefully over years, and it is pleasing that UEA has taken this important first step by launching its policy with a commitment to monitoring its implementation.
IVR has a has a distinctive role in building the evaluation research base to robustly underpin Employer Supported Volunteering. We've been studying Employer Supported Volunteering for over two decades and identified positive and problematic issues. Here are some of our publications:
As early as 2000 we prepared an initial literature review opens in a new window
In 2015 we prepared a report for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) opens in a new window
In 2020 we prepared a report for Network Rail opens in a new window
IVR was set up in 1997 to undertake high quality research on volunteering. It started out as a department of Volunteering England, became part of the research department of NCVO in 2013 and moved to the University of East Anglia in 2019. During the last twenty years, IVR has played a leading role in applied volunteering research involving volunteer organisations, the public sector, private sector and the government.
IVR’s mission is to support and undertake high quality volunteering research to bring about a world in which the power and energy of volunteering and the difference volunteering and volunteering research make to individuals and communities is well understood, so that individuals can be confident and feel safe about their decision to volunteer and communities grow stronger.
Get in touch with us by emailing info.ivr@uea.ac.uk