As an employee of Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO), Stephanie was fortunate to have the equivalent of three working days each year to volunteer with a local organisation or charity of her choice through VAO's Employer Supported Volunteering policy.
Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) is when employers actively enable and encourage staff to volunteer their time and skills, through providing staff time off work to take part in team volunteering events and/or offering individual volunteering hours. ESV plays a key role in strengthening connections between employers, employees, and communities.
Stephanie said:
In October, I took the opportunity to give something back to Employability Orkney by lending a hand with their big reshuffle. I’ve always been a big fan of the work they do, so I was delighted to be able to support them. They also helped us with our own move from Anchor Buildings, so it was lovely to return the favour! The extra pair of hands gave the team a welcome boost and helped get everything done. It was also a great opportunity to see a little of what goes on behind the scenes. I really enjoyed working alongside the staff and other volunteers, all pitching in to get the job done. My duties included carting many, many books from one shop to the other and helping to organise various bits and pieces. However, the highlight for me was getting involved in pricing items for the Restart Rummage section!
I’m grateful to have the opportunity to give my time back to the community, and the experience gave me an even greater appreciation of the time, effort and teamwork that goes into keeping a charity running. It was a great reminder of just how valuable volunteers are and the difference they can make to local organisations.
I enjoyed the experience so much that I’m heading back to help celebrate Employability Orkney’s 21st anniversary on Saturday 7 November! It’s wonderful to be able to support an organisation doing such valuable work in our community, and I’d encourage anyone who has the opportunity to volunteer to give it a go. You never know what you might learn, who you might meet or how much you might enjoy it!
For more information about Employer Supported Volunteering fill out the form below or call 01856 872 897 option 1.
