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What is corporate community involvement?

Corporate community involvement covers all forms of company support for the community, including community projects, employer supported volunteering, gifts in kind, sponsorship and donations.

Volunteering has been nominated as one of the nation's favourite pastimes, so it follows that a large proportion of these volunteers are employees. Unfortunately their efforts are often unsupported and unrecognised by their employers. Why should this be the case?

Employers all over the country are realising that to develop this initiative results in a more motivated, multiskilled workforce who see their job as contributing not only to company profits but to society as a whole. Businesses also enjoy fringe benefits such as increased profile in the community and customer loyalty.

By supporting the community and Employee Volunteering, businesses can take advantage of the following benefits:

• Develops employee skills
• Encourages team building
• Builds staff morale
• Builds self-confidence and decision-making skills
• Encourages customer loyalty
• Raises profile in the community
• Enhances business reputation with employees and customers

Employees also reap substantial benefits from volunteering:

• Build management skills
• Diversify work skills
• Training opportunities
• Meet new people
• A break from the work environment
• Enjoy your job more
• Enhance your CV
• It's great fun!

What is the Bureau's role?

Volunteer Centre West Berkshire is, in essence, a community broker offering a service to businesses to find the most appropriate involvement for them. This service promotes best practice within CCI and ensures that your business contribution is delivered to the organisations that need it most. The form of contribution is entirely in your hands; Volunteer Centre West Berkshire will present you with a range of opportunities.

Who can we help?

There are many groups and organisations in the community who can benefit from your help:

• People with physical disabilities
• Elderly people
• Information and advice groups
• Conservation teams
• Arts venues
• Education
• People with learning disabilities
• Young people
• Animals
• Hospitals
• Counselling services

Some ideas of what you could do ...

Project challenges

A Project Challenge is a practical team activity for employees and all levels of management to work on. The challenge usually takes a day or two to complete and is a great way for businesses to get involved in the community for the first time.

Clearing reed beds in the Pang Valley

The great advantage of a team challenge is that the results are immediately recognisable: you can really see how you've made a difference. Volunteer Centre West Berkshire will prepare challenges for you to consider.

Help in schools

Helping local schools is the best way to ensure that your future employees will meet your expectations. Basic Literacy and Numeracy help in primary schools can be very rewarding and can be done over a lunch hour. Mentoring in secondary schools has had fantastic results in GCSEs and A Levels, with mentored students exceeding the expectations of their schools and themselves.

Business on Board

Aimed at middle to junior management, Business on Board involves recruiting people with management experience for trustee and board positions. Many community organisations need business, financial, management and IT skills to help them stay in step with today's market. Your staff could provide that expertise and gain valuable experience that will enhance your business.

So how do we get started?

Here are a few guidelines to get you going:

1. Contact Volunteer Centre West Berkshire
2. Set up a committee of interested employees
3. Get the boss involved
4. Think about who you want to help, and how you want to contribute
5. Find out about and support existing volunteers
6. Try to involve as many people as possible; everybody should have the opportunity to help
7. Consider CCI as part of your corporate and employee development policies
8. Invite us to prepare a presentation for your board