Environmental charities benefit from staff volunteers

A new type of volunteer is emerging, according to a report by the National Trust.

‘Employee volunteering’ was relatively unheard of three years ago. But now the growth area in volunteers to environment charities are corporate and public sector organisations seeking to develop their staff and show commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The report, Sharing the Caring: hands on action in the countryside and community, analyses the Employee Volunteering Programme (EVP), a partnership between five of the UK’s environmental bodies: the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Youth Hostels Association, the Wildlife Trusts, and BTCV.

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Lindsey Allen, project manager for the partnership, said more than 3,500 employees have been placed on volunteer projects since the Employee Volunteering Programme started in 2001.

“The value of this time is almost half a million pounds,” she said. “This is a significant contribution being made by people who may not normally consider volunteering.”