Introduction to brokerage

What is brokerage?

A ‘broker’ is the commonly used term for an agency that can help an employer find the right volunteering opportunities for their staff. There are a number of specific agencies and consultants who specialise in this, listed at the bottom of this document.

Why use a broker?

Brokers can be the key to successful employer supported volunteering relationships for the following reasons:

1. Time: It can take a lot of time to find the right volunteering opportunity. Brokers source a range of suitable opportunities, and support the volunteering process from organising the activity to doing risk assessments and training.
2. Knowledge of different sectors: Brokers realise what each party needs out of an employer supported volunteering partnership and know how to translate these needs so that both parties benefit from the volunteering activity.
3. Local understanding: Brokers understand local community issues such as regeneration, homelessness, education and unemployment, and can source suitable matching partners to ensure employer supported volunteering meets local needs.
4. Has experienced and expert staff in the field of volunteering: brokers are committed to the ethos of volunteering, with extensive experience of matching and managing volunteering, and reviewing success.
5. Media contacts: brokers often have good local media contacts and can maximise media profile.
6. Local networks: brokers can provide access to local networking opportunities.