Corporate volunteering days are a fantastic way to boost team morale, give back to the community, and enhance your company’s social impact. At Four Square in Edinburgh, we appreciate the value volunteering brings. However, it’s important to understand that the average corporate volunteering day costs us around £250 in staff time, equipment, and risk assessments.
We know your teams want to make a real difference, so we’ve created this straightforward guide to help ensure your volunteering efforts are as effective as possible alongside our article 5 Easy Ways for Your Business to Help Four Square.
By working together efficiently, we can maximise the positive impact you have.
1. Leverage Your Employees’ Expertise
While general labour is always helpful, projects that use professional skills, like graphic design or research, can be even more beneficial. For example, LandAid provided useful professional commercial property services. How could your team’s specific talents could be applied?
2. Come Ready to Work
Volunteering can be challenging, so come prepared to roll up your sleeves! We’ll ensure the day is enjoyable and rewarding with breaks, refreshments, and opportunities to connect with colleagues while making a difference.
3. Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities
Communicate with your Four Square contact before the day to ensure everyone understands their roles. When Ben & Jerry’s sent an 80-strong team to Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, dividing into smaller groups with specific tasks like sorting the bric à brac department was key to a successful day.
4. Provide Ongoing Support
Don’t let your impact fade after just one day. Long-term partnerships, like quarterly fundraising coffee mornings or naming us your Charity of the Year, are invaluable. Consider the easyfundraising search engine. Your team could raise hundreds of pounds for us just by doing their Christmas shopping with it! For more off-site ideas, check out our 5 Easy Ways for Your Business to Help Four Square.
5. Help Spread the Word
Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter. During your volunteering day, take photos and share them on your personal and corporate channels, tagging us and explaining what we do. This helps us reach a wider audience and amplify our impact, especially given our limited marketing resources.
At Four Square, we offer a range of corporate volunteering opportunities in Edinburgh. We’re grateful for the support of businesses like yours and are committed to making these experiences rewarding for everyone involved. By following these tips, you can ensure your volunteering efforts are impactful, efficient, and leave a lasting positive mark.
