Developing one-off 'challenge' events
Team challenges are a popular way of engaging employees in volunteering. A ‘challenge’ is normally a one-off volunteering opportunity and can often be practical in nature e.g.
• Build a patio for a domestic violence refuge
• Take a group of disadvantaged young people to the zoo
• Renovate a pond and garden area for a residential home for the elderly
• Organise a fun evening event for people affected by Alzheimer’s disease
• Build a website for a local disability group
• Turn a small office into a sensory room for vulnerable young people
The benefits of a team challenge for an employer are:
• team building
• staff morale
• skills development
• improved public image
• an opportunity to contribute to the community.
For the volunteer-involving organisation the benefits are:
• much needed work is done
• opportunity to recruit long-term volunteers
• opportunity to secure long-term partnership with the business/public sector partner.
Top tips for those wishing to organise a challenge for their employees
• Allow enough time to plan the event e.g. two months in advance
• Don’t impose what you would like to do on the organisation receiving the volunteers - make sure the work is needed
• Allocate one person to be the challenge co-ordinator
• Make sure the team is available on the day
• If you have a large team, break it down into smaller groups
• Make sure the team understands the charity’s aims
• Visit the site and find out the scope of the challenge
• Find out if you need any special equipment or training
• Do a risk assessment for health and safety – if the challenge involves working with young or vulnerable people, team members may need to be ‘police checked’ which takes around two weeks.
• Check your insurance cover. You may need to take out extra insurance if employees are doing ‘hazadous tasks’ e.g. climbing ladders.
• Prepare a budget for refreshments, travel etc
• Arrange publicity and PR
• Take a camera.
Top tips for employee volunteering-involving organisations
• Make sure you need the offer of help – if the offer of assistance is not right for you, say so and offer an alternative task or date.
• Communicate to your partner organisation how the volunteers will really help your work, so that they know they are making a difference
• Involve them from the start; plan the day well in advance
• Agree the objectives of the day for both organisations
• Make sure expectations are realistic
• Have one point of contact who acts as co-ordinator
• Engage the employer supported volunteers in the wider work of your organisation
• Offer further opportunities to be involved in your work
• Arrange publicity for the event
• Do a risk assessment of the costs and health & safety issues
• Don’t make challenges too technical
• Make sure there is plenty for people to do on the day
• Do an evaluation after the day
• Make sure it is an enjoyable experience all round
• Say thank you to everyone involved and send updates on your work to the team leaders.
A broker can be useful in setting up a challenge as they are experienced in managing all the necessary steps to ensure a successful challenge.
Case Study
CSV Make a Difference Day
Over 100 Barclays employees spent a week at Grafham Water renovating hides and clearing scrub for CSV’s 2004 Make a Difference Day. The team was made up of 12 different Barclays departments, Anglian Water staff and some friends and family of Barclays employees who also wanted to help out.
As well as making the hides more accessible to people with disabilities, the volunteers cut paths, improved visibility and then warmed themselves up burning the chopped wood. This was a great opportunity for the two companies to work together along with members of the public.
Taken from Employer Supported Volunteering – the guide. This new publication, published by Volunteering England and written in collaboration with Business in the Community and supported by Abbey, will tell you everything you need to know about employer supported volunteering.
