You want to give something back to the local community.
You want to engage your staff, improve retention and morale and help the team grow closer.
You want to boost the reputation and credibility of your company.
You want your staff to develop new skills and behaviours.
We can help you involve your whole staff team through employee volunteering with Shaw Trust.
"I was able to share my perspectiveand experience of working at Lloyds.The students were really good –some were a bit cheeky but they werea good bunch, and askedinteresting questions.I think they got a lot out of it."
Lorna, volunteer from Lloyds, previously supported by Shaw Trust to find her first job after she became disabled
Why us?
Shaw Trust is a national charity working to create brighter futures for the people and communities we serve.
We believe everyone should have the chance to achieve their potential. That's why every day our staff and volunteers work in communities to transform the lives of people often excluded by society so they can also live independent and fulfilling lives. Our teams help disabled people and people with limited experience or skills into work, people with mental ill-health to improve their health and wellbeing, children in deprived areas or with special educational needs as they leave school, or offenders coming out of prison who want to turn their lives around.
Because we don't want anything to hold them back from achieving their potential.
Student at one of our Shaw Education Trust schools
Through our employee volunteer programme you or your team can make a positive impact in the local community by volunteering your skills, knowledge or resources.
Our job is to make employee volunteering rewarding and accessible to everyone, with impact on the lives of our clients at the heart of everything we do. Whether you're big or small, looking for a one-off team event, regular sessions to help your staff develop through volunteering, or a completely bespoke programme, we’re here to help you find the best option for your organisation and to support your CSR needs. All our roles are skills-based, so your staff will be putting their day-to-day skills into good use in a new setting. And it’s not just the opportunity to volunteer that will be available to you. You can access our other services, whether that is around employing disabled people or accessibility best practice.
Learn more about our volunteering partnership with The Southern Co-operative.
What will you do?
You can pick from a range of opportunities, both virtual and face-to-face:
• skill-sharing workshops to help our clients with things like employability skills and confidence-building, depending on your interests
• hosting Shaw Trust jobseekers or Shaw Education Trust students at your office for work experience, an employability skills workshop or a behind the scenes look at the world of work
• one-to-one mentoring for clients looking to start their own business
• visiting schools within Shaw Education Trust to speak to students about the world of work
• outdoor volunteering at one of our horticulture social enterprises
• something completely bespoke, based on your interests and skillset
Through volunteering and sharing skills, our colleagues can support a broader spectrum of people to overcome personal barriers and develop employability skills, whilst creating a greater awareness of the diverse challenges and circumstances which our customers may be facing.
Dianne Keith, Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Lloyds Banking Group
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We will make it as easy for you as we can. Together we will decide which opportunity is right for you, plan the day and choose the best location and dates. Plus we always capture feedback and impact data from volunteers and clients, so that you can tell others about the difference you've made to someone's life.
"I hope that sharing my own experiences and belief that having a disability should not be a barrier to employment will inspire others on their career journey".
Jayne Gemmell, volunteer
Is it worth it?
Our clients consistently tell us that spending time with employee volunteers is a great way to get a different perspective on their work-related goals, improve their job-hunting skills and get a big confidence boost, so they can find a job they'll love and want to keep.
"It gave me a chance to look at some of the stuff I hadn't thought about during interviews, and identify some things I could change. I found it one of the best skills sessions I have attended during my time here."
